Making it with love: Stories of Aussie couples in business

The Australian Made Campaign is encouraging shoppers to love local this Valentine’s Day, with Aussie couples the driving force behind many of our locally-made products.

Australian businesses run by married couples occupy a special place in the season of love. According to Family Business Association, family businesses represent 70% of all Australian businesses, employing 50% of the workforce and generating an estimated $4.3 trillion in wealth. Many of these Australian family businesses are manufacturers.

Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro said that purchasing locally made products has a significant economic impact and many other benefits beyond a single transaction.

Lazzaro said, “Choosing to shop at an Australian Made business is a seemingly small decision that has a huge impact. The money you spend  contributes to  the local economy and supports Australian families. It helps to create jobs, drive innovation and generate skills for future generations.”

The Australian Made Campaign spoke to three husband-wife duos about the importance of teamwork, partnership, and passion for running a local manufacturing business.

Phoebe and Aaron Breckell are the dynamic duo behind Woohoo Body, a natural skincare manufacturing business based in in New South Wales. The couple met in 2004, and although their first two dates were separated by Aaron’s three-month deployment with the Royal Australian Navy, their story been uninterrupted since. When they were expecting their firstborn, they worked to create a natural stretch mark cream, which kickstarted their journey into the skincare industry.

“We had a shared vision of creating a lifestyle where we could do the things we loved while supporting our new family, and neither of us were fulfilled with our office jobs at the time,” said Aaron. “Since 2010, we’ve been making a range of skincare products to meet our personal needs and requests from customers.”

Aaron is Woohoo Body’s Cosmetic Chemist and Production Leader, managing day-to-day operations, as Phoebe oversees the company’s marketing, technology, and accounting. “We work well because our skillsets are so different. I can’t do what Aaron does, and Aaron can’t do what I do. But together, we can do anything,” said Phoebe.

As the co-directors of a small business, Aaron and Phoebe know the importance of supporting Australian businesses, particularly in gifting seasons.

“For those who love to show their affection with a gift, buying something Australian Made helps to keep small businesses going,” said Phoebe. “It’s tough out there, and behind every small business is a whole community of people that benefit from shopping small.”

“Every small Australian Made business helps the country. Although being a manufacturer in Australia has its challenges, we’re determined to stick around for a long while yet.”

Richard and Lily Kloester founded Metal Garden in 2016 from their 21-acre hobby farm in Marong on the outskirts of Bendigo, Victoria. “We originally met in Sydney through our church group,” said Richard. “I thought Lily was asking if I would like to go out with her, but she actually meant to go with our church group. So, a misunderstanding turned into the start of our relationship.”

Richard enjoyed designing his sculptures and products from a young age, and after studying Industrial Design at university, he had the idea to start selling his creations. Things quickly became so busy that he asked his wife, Lily, to get involved, which he said was “a blessing”.

“I design and create all our sculptures, and Lily does all the wrapping and postage,” Richard said. “Most of the time, we work in the same area of our workshop, which is great company for each other. Working together is also a great motivator for us to work harder to get our orders done.”

With a mutual passion for craftsmanship and quality products, Richard and Lily have a lot of pride in every product they make and sell.

“People really love quality handmade Australian products. Products that have been made with love and created to last,” said Lily. “And the good thing is that when you buy a product carrying the Australian Made logo, you know you’re supporting a local business.”

Working together at Metal Garden Art has only brought the couple closer. “Running a business together has made us stronger because you need to learn to work together and really listen to each other,” said Richard.

Another hardworking Aussie couple is Mandy and Dan Wilson from Bohemi, who have manufactured hemp pet accessories in New South Wales since 2018. From touring hundreds of kilometres around Australia at the beginning of their relationship, the couple has always had a love for adventure and doing things together.

When looking for low-toxin and sustainable pet accessories for their rescue kelpie Marlow, Mandy began making her own gear – developing an appreciation for natural fibres and the superior strength of hemp.

“Bohemi started in our home studio, and it has always been a team effort from the beginning,” said Mandy. The couple each wears many hats, with Mandy’s roles including designer, maker, researcher and admin, and Dan as sales manager, design assistant, quality control officer and ‘fixer of almost everything’.”

“The most important thing to remember when running a business together is to listen to each other. Respect each other. Communicate openly and encourage new ideas. And most importantly, don’t blur the lines between work problems and personal problems,” said Mandy.

Together, Mandy and Dan are passionate about the benefits of choosing Australian Made and the effects it can have on local communities.

“It’s extremely important for Australians to buy local and keep their hard-earned money circulating in our economy, even more so during more difficult economic times. If the pandemic taught us anything, it is that we are much better off being self-sufficient, and there’s no reason we can’t be here in Australia. We have an abundance of space, resources, diversity, talent and skill sets,” said Dan.

“Not to mention the environmental benefits! Our high quality products that are made to last. The materials we use meet Australian standards for safety and quality, and on top of that, less transportation means less pollution. You can feel good about your purchase knowing the people who made it are paid fair wages and have safe working conditions.”

If you’re buying gifts this Valentine’s Day, look for something that carries the Australian Made green and gold kangaroo and support your local community.

Visit www.australianmade.com.au for Australia’s most extensive online directory of genuine Aussie products.