Hottest new business launches in eastern suburbs Sydney
Did you dream about launching your own business during lockdown? We spoke to eastern suburbs entrepreneurs who took the plunge. Read all about our most exciting fresh launches.
Wentworth Courier
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We’ve got pretty used to shopping in our own backyard and with a stack of new businesses launching in the east, there’s even more reason to keep up the habit.
From homewares courtesy of one of our most loved interior designers to a second-hand textbook book hustle by a group of motivated teens, we celebrate the newest businesses of the eastern suburbs.
CASA
Rushcutters Bay
1/50-54 Bayswater Road
katenixon.com
Are you going for a “featured in Vogue Living” vibe in your home but realistically only need a handful of items that don’t justify hiring an interior designer?
Enter CASA by Kate Nixon which opened this week at Rushcutters Bay revealing what is perhaps the most beautifully curated store in the east.
Ms Nixon is a celebrated Australian stylist, designer and has held the coveted position of the interiors editor of Australian House & Garden magazine for more than a decade.
Visitors to the home and lifestyle boutique can either book a design consult or simply immerse themselves in the curated finds, custom-made products, furnishings, original art and international fragrances.
Ms Nixon described the current offering as a palette of earthy, natural materials boasting the distinctive works of local and global artisans and craftspeople.
“We have a collection of spectacular, large scale, rough-hewn RELIK pots by Luke Mansini on the front steps which have been garnering lots of attention,” Ms Nixon said.
“Also unique, hand formed ceramics by local Australian artists Pamela Tang and Pip Words.
“Beautiful, scalloped linen placemats from Italian artisan weavers Busatti have just landed, perfect for summer entertaining post lockdown.”
An addition to Ms Nixon’s award-winning interior design studio Studio Kate, the boutique’s meticulously restored late-1800s interior marries the heritage and character of original architectural elements with the very latest in luxury finds from Italy and around the world.
Young Bondi
Sevenways – corner Glenayr and Warner avenues, Bondi
www.youngbondi.com
It was a frustrating cycle – North Bondi mum Monique Svenson would find an incredible small Aussie business in a corner of the internet only to lose track of it when the time came to buy something special for her daughters.
A single mum to Clara, 6, and Elle, 4, who had spent years away from her former trade as a cabinet maker, Ms Svenson realised she wasn’t the only one who want to shop small and ethical but found it hard to execute.
“I figured the statute of limitations had run out on anything I could put on a resume,” Ms Svenson said
“I think I was like a lot of mums who’ve been out of the game for a while and don’t have a lot of confidence.
“So then I figured I will just have to make a job for myself.”
Having found a gap in the market, Ms Svenson set about compiling a list of small business stockists, many of them mum owned.
After securing a tenancy in the bustling new Sevenways precinct, she dusted off her tools and set about fitting out her shop.
Young Bondi has been taking online and click and collect orders since lockdown but earlier this week, Ms Svenson excitedly threw open the doors for the first time.
Inside are 600 products ranging from toys and clothes to nursery decor, cutlery, books, chore charts and so much more.
“Sure, you can go to Bondi Junction to shop but you won’t find 98 per cent of what I have,” Ms Svenson said.
“Here’s a mum making playdough powder and the only way you could find her if you’d stumbled on her Instagram.
“These are the new ideas, the solution fillers, the mums like me who said I need to do something here’s a sore point and I am going to fix it.”
Little Fishy Swim
Bondi Beach
Beach loving eastern suburbs mum Jessica Page wants her daughter Lila to inherit an earth with a clean ocean when she gets older, prompting her to take a serious look at her fast fashion swimwear choices.
Ultimately the eco-friendly Bondi Beach entrepreneur decided to launch her own range of kids swimmers made out of recycled plastic bottles.
Little Fishy Swim has just launched their first collection.
“Our aim is to create a high-quality and ethical brand that provides a better choice for sustainable and style-conscious parents,” Ms Page said.
“Our little ones’ swimwear shouldn’t damage the ocean they swim in, rather it should help conserve an incredible marine environment for the next generation.
“That‘s why we give 10 per cent of our profits back to Aussie ocean clean-up charities too.”
Ms Page said she had received incredible support from parents who were excited to have a sustainable option.
“I benefit from a really environmentally-conscious community here in the east – we‘re proud of our beaches and ocean and want to look after them, and why wouldn’t we?” Ms Page said.
“We spend so much time living by and enjoying the water, I think people are keen to show the ocean a little love in return, and this is a cute and easy way to do so.”
Ms Page hopes to remove 1 million plastic bottles from the ocean by 2025, all whilst inspiring the next generation of little ocean warriors.
“We‘d love to expand from childrens’ swimwear to become a one-stop sustainable shop for ocean loving families when they hit the beach, and have already added a small line of recycled plastic baby toys too,” she said.
Textbooks2U
Woollahra
www.textbooks2u.com.au
Sydney Grammar students frustrated by the expense and waste of new textbooks have taken inspiration from their favourite businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffett and launched their own socially conscious hustle.
Year 10 students Alexander Mudri, Soren Arthur, Jeffrey Chen and Ethan Lowinger launched second-hand marketplace Textbooks2U last month and already have more than $3500 worth of preloved books on offer.
“Similar to the experience of many students, acquiring new textbooks or selling old textbooks has always been a difficult process with limited options and few market players, especially in an online environment,” Alexander said.
“With the help of my co-founders, we created a marketplace solely dedicated to providing a superior service that allows people to buy and sell their textbooks.
“With a community impact in mind and wanting to find a charity that revolved around education, we partnered with the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, with 10 per cent of our profits dedicated to their cause. I think they are an incredible charity that is having a significant impact in improving literacy and numeracy rates in marginalised communities.”
The young Woollahra businessman and his friends have been impressing the judge of the Generation Entrepreneur competition.
“Our goal is to make education more affordable, accessible and sustainable by reducing book costs, donating to charity and enabling environmentally-friendly reuse of textbooks,” he said.
“To date, the business is progressing successfully having been selected to progress to the next round in Generation Entrepreneur’s program, where we will further improve our financial framework which is key to optimally operating our business.
“After graduating high school, I would like to enter the field of finance, as I am highly interested in investing and following the financial markets. In particular, inspired by Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch, asset management, investment banking and options trading are possible careers that excite me and that I have a passion for.
“Of course, I hope to continue Textbooks2U, and I aspire to act as a leader and a role model for future students to demonstrate that they too can create their own businesses.”
Local Supply x Aje
Bondi
www.localsupply.com
Not quite a new business launch, but our favourite plant based sunnies have announced a major new collaboration with Aje.
The sustainable eyewear label unveiled a capsule collection this week which complements Aje’s Scent of Summer range.
Founded by Bondi resident Sean Satha, the Local Supply collection consists of three styles of frame: ‘The Catfarer’, ‘The Cat Eye’ and ‘The Square’ which are available in shades of rosy Pink, tortoiseshell, off white or black.
“It was a pleasure working with the Aje team, they have amazing style, an exceptional eye for detail,
and a clear vision for their brand and customer,” Mr Satha said.
“Designing this eyewear collection was a collaborative and genuinely enjoyable process where everything clicked into place and came together organically.
“We believe the final product embodies the Aje woman and captures the spirit of the partnership between our two brands.”
The collection launched on Wednesday and glasses retail for $225.
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