I Built A Worldwide Business From Broke.

[c_morris]

I am so delighted to be here. And hope I get many opportunities to exchange stories and ideas with members about overcoming the depths of despair that are part of 'the process'.

I'm looking forward to reading all that you have to share. Judging by your 1st 2 days on the forum, you will be a "Legendary Contributor" in no time.

rep++

 

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[Carol Jones]

I'm looking forward to reading all that you have to share. Judging by your 1st 2 days on the forum, you will be a "Legendary Contributor" in no time.

rep++

Good morning @cmor16 from rural Australia,

Thank you!

I have 35 years of business experience to share. And love sharing what I've learned. And observed.

Forums are about giving to others. And learning from others. The perfect give. And take. And this forum is exceptional in that respect.

If ever I can help you, please let me know. ~Carol❤

 

[Guest06196]

Good afternoon @Carol Jones from Metropolitan Sydney.

Thank you for sharing your story. It's inspirational, especially for someone living in the same state/country!

Bits of UNSCRIPTED kept coming up when I went through your posts.

I cannot wait to be like you, offering help & giving value to people who need.

 

[Carol Jones]

Good afternoon @Carol Jones from Metropolitan Sydney.

Thank you for sharing your story. It's inspirational, especially for someone living in the same state/country!

Bits of UNSCRIPTED kept coming up when I went through your posts.

I cannot wait to be like you, offering help & giving value to people who need.

G'day @Magneto C!

How fabulous to meet you. I'm absolutely thrilled.

Where do you live in Sydney?

We lived in Balmain for 22 years. We now live in the picturesque Central Tablelands of NSW. In the hill country between historic Bathurst. And the vineyards of Mudgee. On 54 beautiful hectares. We're 970M high. And have stunning views across the hills towards Bathurst.

We're in serious drought at the moment. We've had only 10mm of rain since March. So the hills aren't as gorgeous as they should be. Their colour is more like living in the stark desert of Saudi Arabia. When I much prefer the emerald green of Ireland!

What do you do? Or. What are you hoping to do?

You can help someone today. You don't need to have the years of experience that I have. You will have a skill. Or an area of knowledge. That someone else can benefit from. Trust me. We always sell ourselves short.

Participating in forums, there's always someone who is looking for advice. Or expertise. That you can fill in the gaps for. There will always be someone who doesn't know as much as you do about 'X'. And will be grateful for your help.

I love that you've dropped in. And hope we stay connected. If I can ever help you in any way, please let me know. It would be a privilege to continue the conversation.

I'm starting Unscripted today! ~Carol❤

 

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[codonnell]

Good morning from rural Australia,

In a nutshell, my partner and I design and make textile products that are simple solutions for difficult problems. We have 400,000 customers in 30 countries around the world who think our products are the best thing since sliced bread. The icing on the cake is that all our products are made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability. We are renown for our simple solutions that work. When others don't.

That's the event.

The process is this.

In 1992, my partner and I lost everything in Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating's 'recession we had to have'. We closed down two businesses. My partner's 12 year old architectural practice. My market research consultancy. We farewelled 16 loyal and supportive staff. We sold our home of 22 years. Two cars. And our personal possessions. To pay off what debt we could. And made a scheme of arrangement with our creditors to pay off the remaining debt.

Poor as church mice. We left the city lights of Sydney Australia. For a rural life in a remote village with no internet access. No email. Not even call waiting. But it met our most important criteria. We could live in a farmhouse whose rent we could afford to pay. The village was heavily affected by a severe drought. And the house was not a desirable place to live. But it was our safety net.

We made a decision to find our way back by utilising simple solutions. Our skills were in design. And research. So we reinvented ourselves as product designers and makers of textile products. Our first product didn't capture the hearts of the marketplace. But our second product did. We redesigned the humble ironing board cover utilising a low tech solution to make sure it was firmly anchored to an ironing board. So it never moved. Which is what makes people hate ironing.

If you make one good product. Customers want more. So we designed 6 more textile products. And today we have more than 400,000 customers in 30 countries. Without any retail distribution. And all done online today. But in the beginning, it was all mail order.

We've been down dark alleys. Wondered if we were certifiably mad to keep doing what we were doing when ironing board covers are not top of mind with most people.

But we discovered they are very top of mind with men and women who must iron.

Even though the subject is not sexy, our products, and our story, have been written about in every major publication in Australia.

We've been featured on mainstream TV. Interviewed on radio. Included in two books. The latest being 'Hunch' by international best selling author Bernadette Jiwa. I'm the 'Ironing Whisperer' on page 73.

The process of working every day is what got us to where we are today.

We did what everyone said we couldn't do. We built a worldwide business from broke. On a remote rural property. Before the internet and email came to our rural village.

I'm here to mix with like minded men and women. I have 35 years of business experience to share. I've done the hard yards. And would love to be of help to those of you who can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And. I want to travel further along the road to wealth.

It will be a pleasure to meet you. ~Carol❤

Fellow Australian congratulating you on your business success. If you could travel back in time, reflecting on your experiences, what would be the two best pieces of advice you would tell yourself at the start of your journey to fast track your business growth?

Having been in business for 3 years and making many mistakes, I would say my best advice would be to do things as cheaply as possible (not in terms of being cheap with materials or your service) and to speak to someone in your industry. I think my failure on these points has cost me $100k plus (unnecessarily) and more importantly 18 months in having a better business model.

 

[Carol Jones]

Fellow Australian congratulating you on your business success. If you could travel back in time, reflecting on your experiences, what would be the two best pieces of advice you would tell yourself at the start of your journey to fast track your business growth?

Having been in business for 3 years and making many mistakes, I would say my best advice would be to do things as cheaply as possible (not in terms of being cheap with materials or your service) and to speak to someone in your industry. I think my failure on these points has cost me $100k plus (unnecessarily) and more importantly 18 months in having a better business model.

G'day @codonnell ,

Thank you for your comment. It's always a delight to meet another Australian.

First. We never do anything cheaply. We're selling quality. So our product utilises first-class materials. And when the price goes up, we increase the price of our product. I've never noticed we've lost customers. And this is obviously something you agree with.

I also don't skimp on the essentials for our business. We've had the same suppliers for 23 years. I don't chop and change. Or look for the cheapest price. My loyalty to my suppliers pays off in spades when I need them to move mountains for me in an emergency. As I did recently when the new premier hotel in Tasmania, Macq01, wanted 126 ironing board covers for their boards in a short time frame. So they would be on the boards for opening day.

I willingly pay for quality software that runs my business. Which means I don't have glitches that cost time. And money.

My accountant is top notch. His advice has been incomparable.

I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for. And for me. Paying for quality saves time. And money. In the long term.

We keep our profit margins low. Which discourages anyone who is tempted to copy us. To begin with, the Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover is a pain in the bum to make. Fiddly. With 13 accessories to source.

People copy you because they can make your product cheaper. And maker greater profits. In our case, the profit margin just isn't there to make it worth their while.

Also. We're not me too products. All our products are unique. There is nothing else like them to compare with. And they are all protected by copyright design.

Second. We've also made many mistakes. But looking back 23 years, I would never again ask. And pay. Experts. For their advice.

We asked Charles Sturt University's marketing department in Bathurst NSW for advice. Their recommendation? That we be corporate. And edgy. And make our products in China.

That's not who we are. And is not the image we want to project. We're a rural business. And very much down to earth. And that's the image our customers love.

Victor is Russian. I'm an ex-pat American. Both immigrants to Australia. The last thing we want to do is export jobs to other countries. Our loyalties are to Australia. The best business decision we ever made was to have our products made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability.

Early on, we sought advice from the Manufacturing Council Of Australia. They appointed us an 'Angel'. As an Australian, you would know who he was. He lied to us. Totally misled us. He was only interested in lining his pockets with the grant the Council gave us. To pay him. He told us 'XYZ' company was very interested in our product. When we rang, we were horrified to hear that they told him they had no interest in our product. And please don't call them again. That happened 7 times in a row. We were shattered.

We have a litany of bad advice from 'experts'. All revolving around. Sell it cheaper. There is a dearth of 'experts' who know how to sell on quality.

Talk to people in our industry? They all make ironing board covers the same way. We are a breakthrough design. We rang Hills Industries. Who make ironing boards. We sent them a cover. Their marketing manager rang to tell us our cover was the best they had ever seen. We asked them if they would distribute our cover for us. Absolutely not, they said. Their prediction? We'll be lucky to sell 250 covers. Tops. We have more than 400,000 customers in 30 countries.

Our experience is that everyone sells cheaply. Because it's the easy way out.

We taught ourselves to sell on quality. It's harder. And takes longer to get traction. But we are so experienced at that now, that we don't worry about price. We only put it up when we have to. The last price increase we had was in 2014. By keeping our profit margins low, we discourage competition. And we develop a loyal customer base. Who are aware that they're getting value for money.

The second best business decision we made was to listen to our customers. They care enough to give us constructive criticism. We have implemented every change they've asked us to make. In running our business. And regarding our website. We have a better. And stronger business. Because of them. They're paying us. And deserve our attention when they make recommendations.

I don't agree that doing things as cheaply as possible is a good business strategy. There's always someone who can be cheaper than you. When you offer superior quality. You're offering value that people don't get elsewhere. And it's hard to compete with that.

Make no mistake, Codonnell, we are very well aware of the fact that we are the ironing board cover of last choice. Customers will always try the cheapest first. But when those cheap covers let them down. Time after time. They finally buy ours. And we have them for life. As one customer told me recently, "I was always looking for the ultimate cover. And never found it until I purchased yours". We hear that over. And over.

This applies to all 7 of our products. Not one of them is the cheapest. But all of them are the best. Ever!

We always say that our products work. When others don't. And once they buy ours. They know what that means.

Our values are giving the best ever possible to our customers. In terms of products. And customer service. To achieve that, we run our business on high octane fuel.

Those are our values.

We're all different Codonnell. And we all have different objectives in running our businesses. What's right for me. Could be totally wrong for you.

I hope this answers your questions. It's a pleasure to meet you. And thank you for your questions. They make me think of why we do what we do. Please feel free to ask more questions. ~Carol❤

 

[Greg R]

Could this be the first GOLD intro thread???

 

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[Andy Black]

Marked GOLD.

Thanks for being you Carol, and thanks for taking your time to show how to build a business ethically, and that's adds value to so many.

 

[The-J]

8 years after we started wandering in the wilderness, we were an overnight success!

Love it. @Andy Black was right to make this GOLD.

Honestly this is one of the best Intro threads in the history of the forum. Granted, most people who come here do not have your level of experience. You have 25 years in this business when the average age of participants is 25.

But there are many important things to take away from your posts. You do things differently. When everyone is chasing greater profits, you refuse to compromise on quality. When everyone is looking for a sexy market, you stick to a market that really hasn't changed since the first electric steam iron was invented (and yet, is a HUGE market). When everyone is asking 'experts' and gurus, you're asking the customers and it all comes back to that.

You mentioned earlier that you like to talk to your customers. What's sad is that people really wanna move away from that. They see it as a waste of time, something that can be outsourced. Dealing with the customers takes time that could be used to make more sales, right? I'm in the marketing consulting space and all the time I hear "I'd rather not have to deal with the customers", as if the customers are a problem.

Some things can't be outsourced.

 

[Jon L]

Good morning from rural Australia,

In a nutshell, my partner and I design and make textile products that are simple solutions for difficult problems. We have 400,000 customers in 30 countries around the world who think our products are the best thing since sliced bread. The icing on the cake is that all our products are made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability. We are renown for our simple solutions that work. When others don't.

That's the event.

The process is this.

In 1992, my partner and I lost everything in Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating's 'recession we had to have'. We closed down two businesses. My partner's 12 year old architectural practice. My market research consultancy. We farewelled 16 loyal and supportive staff. We sold our home of 22 years. Two cars. And our personal possessions. To pay off what debt we could. And made a scheme of arrangement with our creditors to pay off the remaining debt.

Poor as church mice. We left the city lights of Sydney Australia. For a rural life in a remote village with no internet access. No email. Not even call waiting. But it met our most important criteria. We could live in a farmhouse whose rent we could afford to pay. The village was heavily affected by a severe drought. And the house was not a desirable place to live. But it was our safety net.

We made a decision to find our way back by utilising simple solutions. Our skills were in design. And research. So we reinvented ourselves as product designers and makers of textile products. Our first product didn't capture the hearts of the marketplace. But our second product did. We redesigned the humble ironing board cover utilising a low tech solution to make sure it was firmly anchored to an ironing board. So it never moved. Which is what makes people hate ironing.

If you make one good product. Customers want more. So we designed 6 more textile products. And today we have more than 400,000 customers in 30 countries. Without any retail distribution. And all done online today. But in the beginning, it was all mail order.

We've been down dark alleys. Wondered if we were certifiably mad to keep doing what we were doing when ironing board covers are not top of mind with most people.

But we discovered they are very top of mind with men and women who must iron.

Even though the subject is not sexy, our products, and our story, have been written about in every major publication in Australia.

We've been featured on mainstream TV. Interviewed on radio. Included in two books. The latest being 'Hunch' by international best selling author Bernadette Jiwa. I'm the 'Ironing Whisperer' on page 73.

The process of working every day is what got us to where we are today.

We did what everyone said we couldn't do. We built a worldwide business from broke. On a remote rural property. Before the internet and email came to our rural village.

I'm here to mix with like minded men and women. I have 35 years of business experience to share. I've done the hard yards. And would love to be of help to those of you who can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And. I want to travel further along the road to wealth.

It will be a pleasure to meet you. ~Carol❤

Welcome! I'm really glad you're here. What an inspiring story.

 

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[Carol Jones]

Marked GOLD.

Thanks for being you Carol, and thanks for taking your time to show how to build a business ethically, and that's adds value to so many.

Good morning @Andy Black from Oz,

It's 3:24am. I'm up because I have a 4am webinar to attend.

I'm utterly astonished at my thread being marked Gold. And I have you to thank. Please accept my sincere appreciation for making that decision.

Andy, the pleasure in answering members' questions is all mine. It's not only a learning experience for them. But for me too. It's been years since I've talked about our experiences publicly. Their questions have made me ask myself, why did we do things this way? This has been, for me, like a walk down memory lane. And it has brought me much joy to bring the past. Into the present.

You're a treasure, Andy. As we like to say in Oz about people who do special things for other people. Thank you! ~Carol❤

 

[Carol Jones]

Could this be the first GOLD intro thread???

Good morning @Greg Rutkowski from Oz,

Thank you for the recommendation for my thread to be Gold. It's a very humbling experience.

It's 3:42am. I'm up to attend a 4am seminar. What a way to start Monday morning! Sometimes 'thank you' just never seems to cut it. This is one of those times! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday in Chicago. ~Carol❤

 

[Carol Jones]

Love it. @Andy Black was right to make this GOLD.

Honestly this is one of the best Intro threads in the history of the forum. Granted, most people who come here do not have your level of experience. You have 25 years in this business when the average age of participants is 25.

But there are many important things to take away from your posts. You do things differently. When everyone is chasing greater profits, you refuse to compromise on quality. When everyone is looking for a sexy market, you stick to a market that really hasn't changed since the first electric steam iron was invented (and yet, is a HUGE market). When everyone is asking 'experts' and gurus, you're asking the customers and it all comes back to that.

You mentioned earlier that you like to talk to your customers. What's sad is that people really wanna move away from that. They see it as a waste of time, something that can be outsourced. Dealing with the customers takes time that could be used to make more sales, right? I'm in the marketing consulting space and all the time I hear "I'd rather not have to deal with the customers", as if the customers are a problem.

Some things can't be outsourced.

Good morning @The-J,

Thank you for your support! It's truly appreciated.

Customers are the lifeblood of every business. There is no business without customers.

I got my first job when I was 13 years old. Working in a department store on Saturdays in a small town in Virginia. Where my father was transferred.

I'm an ex-pat American.

I really wanted this job because I hated asking my parents for money to do things. I had an allowance. But in the eyes of a 13 year old, it was never large enough!

The owner of the department store didn't cut anyone any slack. If the staff weren't serving customers, they were fired and tossed out the door in front of everyone else.

I discovered that I had a natural ability to love customers! Including black customers. This is the south. I'm from the north - New York City. And grew up without discrimination.

Before long, all the black customers were lining up. Waiting for me to serve them. Because I treated them with the same respect that I treated all customers. My parents, who had ears everywhere, would have given me a severe dressing down if they had heard I was disrespectful to anyone.

Mr Leggett, the owner of the department store, adored me. I worked for him until I left for university.

I also had a babysitting business. To earn even more money. And I instinctively knew that being the ideal babysitter meant I was always booked.

I love people. I also love serving them. That's what you do when you have a business. You serve people. And when they're happy, they reward you with friendship. They want to get to know me. And that leads to loyalty.

I have somewhere on my website that we will walk over broken glass to make sure a customer is happy. And that's what we do.

I have no sympathy for people who don't want to deal with customers. That's not how you build up a business. As a customer, I've been on the receiving end of that attitude. I never go back. If I can go elsewhere.

You should tell your clients that their disdain for customers will come back to bite them on the bum one day. Karma is always in play!

I hope we stay in touch, The-J. It's been a delight to have you connect and comment. ~Carol❤

 

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[Carol Jones]

Welcome! I'm really glad you're here. What an inspiring story.

Good morning @Jon L from rural Australia,

Thank you! What a fabulous welcome. I'm really glad I'm here too. I hope we stay in touch. And if I can ever help you, please let me know. ~Carol❤

 

[Andy Black]

I've been in the market for a new ironing board cover for a few weeks now. I even have one in the boot of my car to return because it was rubbish.

Where do I buy please?

 

[Caramel]

Wow, Incredibly inspiring, Carol!

More proof that you can reach new heights when you pick quality and creating value over focusing on the money.

Also, I love how your instagram name is "ironingdiva". I think a lot of people missed that one!

 

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[Carol Jones]

I've been in the market for a new ironing board cover for a few weeks now. I even have one in the boot of my car to return because it was rubbish.

Where do I buy please?

Good morning @Andy Black,

That's an unexpected surprise! But I'm delighted.

I'll give you some links to follow.

But before I do, you need to know that we ship via Australia Post. And the cost of shipping to Ireland is AUD$45.00.

There's more.

Australia is not part of any EU agreement. And as such, in July 2015, the UK imposed tariffs on parcels arriving from Australia. All parcels, regardless of cost, including gifts, incur VAT at the current rate. As well as a customs import duty. And a customs service fee determined by them. All this must be paid by you at your local post office before your parcel is released.

This is a dealbreaker for me. America is my biggest export market. The UK was 2nd. But no longer.

You must check this information with Customs to find out what extra taxes will be added to your parcel.

If you still want to proceed, here are some links. All costs are in Australian Dollars. Your credit card company converts to the Euro at the time of debit. The Euro today buys $1.51 Australian dollars. So a parcel total of say, AUD$133.35. Should be Euro$88.90. Check what their conversion rate is.

This is the link to the Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover page. Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover. Details

Our website is mobile friendly.

From there you can navigate to every other page, including the Superior Felt Underlay page. Which I strongly suggest you purchase if you don't have a good felt. People all over the world wax lyrical about this felt. It's included in the AUD$45 postage & handling.

On that page is a link to the PayPal shopping cart. All Products

You don't need a PayPal account to use this shopping cart. This shopping cart is also mobile friendly.

Also on that page is a link to a non-PayPal shopping cart. For those who have an aversion to PayPal.

https://interfaceaustralia.com/cgi-bin/cart/smart.cgi.

This cart is not mobile friendly. But. I have many customers in their 70's, 80's and 90's who prefer this shopping cart. So it's there for their benefit.

Our credit cards are MasterCard. Visa. American Express. Diners.

I think I've told you everything you need to know before you shop! If you didn't live in Ireland, 90% of the above wouldn't be necessary to tell you.

Everything you order from us comes with a Twelve Month Wear & Tear Guarantee. We guarantee that you can't wear any product out within 12 months. If you do, we replace it. At the end of 11 months, I send you an email to let you know your guarantee expires in 30 days. So. If you're having a problem, tell me, so I can fix it. We want happy customers. Not grumpy customers.

We also guarantee a complete no questions asked refund. Including your postage. If what you purchased doesn't meet your expectations. In 23 years I have only been asked for one refund. A customer ordered a cover. A week later her mother-in-law gave her a cover as a gift. Victoria didn't want to ask Barbara to take the cover back. So she asked me if I would give her a refund. Of course I would. And did.

If you need more information, please let me know. I would be beyond thrilled to see an order from you. But do know that the tariffs and VAT can be a dealbreaker.

By the way, in July 2017, Australia followed the UK's example. And we have to pay GST on all overseas orders we place. ~Carol❤

 

[Guest06196]

Good morning @Andy Black,

That's an unexpected surprise! But I'm delighted.

I'll give you some links to follow.

But before I do, you need to know that we ship via Australia Post. And the cost of shipping to Ireland is AUD$45.00.

There's more.

Australia is not part of any EU agreement. And as such, in July 2015, the UK imposed tariffs on parcels arriving from Australia. All parcels, regardless of cost, including gifts, incur VAT at the current rate. As well as a customs import duty. And a customs service fee determined by them. All this must be paid by you at your local post office before your parcel is released.

This is a dealbreaker for me. America is my biggest export market. The UK was 2nd. But no longer.

You must check this information with Customs to find out what extra taxes will be added to your parcel.

If you still want to proceed, here are some links. All costs are in Australian Dollars. Your credit card company converts to the Euro at the time of debit. The Euro today buys $1.51 Australian dollars. So a parcel total of say, AUD$133.35. Should be Euro$88.90. Check what their conversion rate is.

This is the link to the Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover page. Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover. Details

Our website is mobile friendly.

From there you can navigate to every other page, including the Superior Felt Underlay page. Which I strongly suggest you purchase if you don't have a good felt. People all over the world wax lyrical about this felt. It's included in the AUD$45 postage & handling.

On that page is a link to the PayPal shopping cart. All Products

You don't need a PayPal account to use this shopping cart. This shopping cart is also mobile friendly.

Also on that page is a link to a non-PayPal shopping cart. For those who have an aversion to PayPal.

https://interfaceaustralia.com/cgi-bin/cart/smart.cgi.

This cart is not mobile friendly. But. I have many customers in their 70's, 80's and 90's who prefer this shopping cart. So it's there for their benefit.

Our credit cards are MasterCard. Visa. American Express. Diners.

I think I've told you everything you need to know before you shop! If you didn't live in Ireland, 90% of the above wouldn't be necessary to tell you.

Everything you order from us comes with a Twelve Month Wear & Tear Guarantee. We guarantee that you can't wear any product out within 12 months. If you do, we replace it. At the end of 11 months, I send you an email to let you know your guarantee expires in 30 days. So. If you're having a problem, tell me, so I can fix it. We want happy customers. Not grumpy customers.

We also guarantee a complete no questions asked refund. Including your postage. If what you purchased doesn't meet your expectations. In 23 years I have only been asked for one refund. A customer ordered a cover. A week later her mother-in-law gave her a cover as a gift. Victoria didn't want to ask Barbara to take the cover back. So she asked me if I would give her a refund. Of course I would. And did.

If you need more information, please let me know. I would be beyond thrilled to see an order from you. But do know that the tariffs and VAT can be a dealbreaker.

By the way, in July 2017, Australia followed the UK's example. And we have to pay GST on all overseas orders we place. ~Carol❤

This post alone is enough for another thread titled: How to Deliver Superior Customer Service

1. Always be clear and upfront about your fees.

2. Create a separate shopping cart for a different demographic.

3. Take Amex & Diners. So many shops don't even take AMEX.

4. Send a follow up email close to the end of your warranty. Let them know you're happy to solve problems, if there are any.

5. Include customer's postage in your refund!

 

[Andy Black]

Good morning @Andy Black,

That's an unexpected surprise! But I'm delighted.

I'll give you some links to follow.

But before I do, you need to know that we ship via Australia Post. And the cost of shipping to Ireland is AUD$45.00.

There's more.

Australia is not part of any EU agreement. And as such, in July 2015, the UK imposed tariffs on parcels arriving from Australia. All parcels, regardless of cost, including gifts, incur VAT at the current rate. As well as a customs import duty. And a customs service fee determined by them. All this must be paid by you at your local post office before your parcel is released.

This is a dealbreaker for me. America is my biggest export market. The UK was 2nd. But no longer.

You must check this information with Customs to find out what extra taxes will be added to your parcel.

If you still want to proceed, here are some links. All costs are in Australian Dollars. Your credit card company converts to the Euro at the time of debit. The Euro today buys $1.51 Australian dollars. So a parcel total of say, AUD$133.35. Should be Euro$88.90. Check what their conversion rate is.

This is the link to the Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover page. Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover. Details

Our website is mobile friendly.

From there you can navigate to every other page, including the Superior Felt Underlay page. Which I strongly suggest you purchase if you don't have a good felt. People all over the world wax lyrical about this felt. It's included in the AUD$45 postage & handling.

On that page is a link to the PayPal shopping cart. All Products

You don't need a PayPal account to use this shopping cart. This shopping cart is also mobile friendly.

Also on that page is a link to a non-PayPal shopping cart. For those who have an aversion to PayPal.

https://interfaceaustralia.com/cgi-bin/cart/smart.cgi.

This cart is not mobile friendly. But. I have many customers in their 70's, 80's and 90's who prefer this shopping cart. So it's there for their benefit.

Our credit cards are MasterCard. Visa. American Express. Diners.

I think I've told you everything you need to know before you shop! If you didn't live in Ireland, 90% of the above wouldn't be necessary to tell you.

Everything you order from us comes with a Twelve Month Wear & Tear Guarantee. We guarantee that you can't wear any product out within 12 months. If you do, we replace it. At the end of 11 months, I send you an email to let you know your guarantee expires in 30 days. So. If you're having a problem, tell me, so I can fix it. We want happy customers. Not grumpy customers.

We also guarantee a complete no questions asked refund. Including your postage. If what you purchased doesn't meet your expectations. In 23 years I have only been asked for one refund. A customer ordered a cover. A week later her mother-in-law gave her a cover as a gift. Victoria didn't want to ask Barbara to take the cover back. So she asked me if I would give her a refund. Of course I would. And did.

If you need more information, please let me know. I would be beyond thrilled to see an order from you. But do know that the tariffs and VAT can be a dealbreaker.

By the way, in July 2017, Australia followed the UK's example. And we have to pay GST on all overseas orders we place. ~Carol❤

Hi Carol,

Thanks for the detailed note. I can see how you make sales. You're prepared to engage your market hand-to-hand.

I live in the Republic of Ireland which isn't part of The UK, while Northern Ireland *is* part of The UK. Which should mean no extra tarrif.



Just to clarify, because it's not simple and because it might help with your previous second largest market:

Great Britain is England, Scotland, and Wales. They all border each other.

The UK is short for "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". NI is part of The UK, and uses the pound as currency. NI is separated from GB by The Irish Sea.

On the same physical island as NI is The Republic of Ireland (also just known as Ireland). Ireland isn't part of the UK and uses the Euro as currency.

I don't live in the UK and that tarrif shouldn't be imposed.



What might interest you is that when I order products from Amazon.co.uk then a lot of sellers don't deliver to Ireland.

A workaround here in Ireland is to use services like parcelmotel.ie where the product is shipped to their NI address (part of The UK), and then driven down to their Dublin address and distributed out to cities and towns throughout Ireland. I then go to one of the parcelmotels and pick up my delivery.

We of course pay a little extra for that service.

 

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[Carol Jones]

Wow, Incredibly inspiring, Carol!

More proof that you can reach new heights when you pick quality and creating value over focusing on the money.

Also, I love how your instagram name is "ironingdiva". I think a lot of people missed that one!

G'day @Caramel from rural Austalia,

Thank you! Much appreciated. I've been 'Carol Jones, Ironing Diva' for 7 years. For a long time, I was the only 'diva' on social media. Now every other person is a diva!

Customers crave quality. And they crave value. And they crave being told we love them.

How simple a solution is that for success!

Thank you for dropping in. And I hope we stay in touch. ~Carol❤

 

[MarekvBeek]

Good morning @MarekvBeek from rural Australia,

Thank you for your comments.

Yes! I'm very much working full time.

Other projects? Definitely. I want to use the credibility and goodwill I've built up with my customer base over 23 years to transition to other things. I'm not sure what that will be. I have an open mind. But whatever it is, it has to be something that is beneficial to the environment. And which helps other people. Although $$$$ is important. It won't be about making money. But more a case of the $$$$ following the cause.

I'm here because I'm looking for options. And want to meet like minded men and women.

Why share my story?

Because every entrepreneur has been where we've been. Perhaps not flat broke. But close to it.

And many give up before they give themselves a chance. And don't have the courage when they're really struggling to stand up to the flak they get from family and friends because they haven't reached 'success' in the time frame determined by other people.

We've been there.

Victor's parents are a good example. "How come my son, the architect, is now a purveyor of ironing board covers"? They couldn't understand that the 'recession we had to have' decimated the building industry. There was no work for architects for 10 years in Australia. And. They were embarrassed at telling their friends that their son made ironing board covers. Instead of designing tall buildings.

They also couldn't resign themselves to the fact that before the recession we were a very wealthy business couple. With a high profile in the Sydney Australia business community. I was on 3 boards of directors. And Victor was the developers' dream architect.

And afterwards. We were flat broke. With no real prospects for earning an income. I'm sure it caused them a great deal of personal pain.

Friends. Perhaps mean well. But were insistent that we get a job. Rather than fiddle around with something so trivial as an ironing board cover. "Who irons anyway? Doesn't everyone hate it?"

Our accountant. "You're not making enough money. You can't start a business in the depths of the worst recession Australia's ever had. Why don't you both just knuckle under and get a real job?"

And then the strangers we meet. "You really make a living out of selling ironing board covers"? Well not yet. But we will!

Then there's the disapproval from people because the product isn't sexy. Glamourous. High tech. The fact that people who are serious about ironing think it's the best thing since sliced bread doesn't matter.

The banks. "We can't lend you money. Nobody irons. Who are you going to sell to"? How about the 400,000 men and women in 30 countries? Just as starters.

The disapproval. And flak. Comes from all directions. And entrepreneurs starting out need to know they have to have a spine of steel to withstand the assault. And once you get over the hump, and realise your dream is possible, life doesn't get easy. But your faith and confidence in yourself increases. You become more focused on where you want to be. And more determined to get there.

Once you reach that stage, you start to stand up to your dissenters. And put them in their place. Including family.

That's why I want to share my story. To let entrepreneurs know that anything is possible. You just have to find a way to make it happen. Against all odds.

Appreciate your questions, Marek. They made me think - why?

If I can ever help you, please let me know. ~Carol❤

Hey Carol,

Thank you for such a great answer!

When you talk about the disbelief of others, I know exactly what you're talking about. And I feel that when the disbelief is greater, the greater my motivation and drive is, to prove them wrong. I very welcome that.

The reason I asked you these questions is because of the same reason you asked me this question: WHY?

I want to know why people do certain things. What their motivation is.

Because when I see people like you helping others and reaching out to others, that inspires me.

If I know your why, I can achieve the same results.

 

[Choate]

I have one major takeaway from all of this...

"What would Carol do?" - something anyone here should ask themselves when faced in a tough situation.

After reading these 4 short pages of this thread, I've gleaned so much insight from you telling your story. Even picked up a new word, "salubrious". Thanks a ton for sharing.

 

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[Carol Jones]

Hi Carol,

Thanks for the detailed note. I can see how you make sales. You're prepared to engage your market hand-to-hand.

I live in the Republic of Ireland which isn't part of The UK, while Northern Ireland *is* part of The UK. Which should mean no extra tarrif.



Just to clarify, because it's not simple and because it might help with your previous second largest market:

Great Britain is England, Scotland, and Wales. They all border each other.

The UK is short for "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". NI is part of The UK, and uses the pound as currency. NI is separated from GB by The Irish Sea.

On the same physical island as NI is The Republic of Ireland (also just known as Ireland). Ireland isn't part of the UK and uses the Euro as currency.

I don't live in the UK and that tarrif shouldn't be imposed.

What might interest you is that when I order products from Amazon.co.uk then a lot of sellers don't deliver to Ireland.

A workaround here in Ireland is to use services like parcelmotel.ie where the product is shipped to their NI address (part of The UK), and then driven down to their Dublin address and distributed out to cities and towns throughout Ireland. I then go to one of the parcelmotels and pick up my delivery.

We of course pay a little extra for that service.

G'day again @Andy Black,

Thank you for all that information. No. I didn't know the difference between Northern Ireland. And the Republic of Ireland. But I do now. What an education that is!

Regarding how our parcels are delivered. Australia Post is our only option.

We live and work from our remote rural property. Where we drive an hour to buy a litre of milk.

Couriers. Or special services. Are not available to us.

Many online businesses in Australia deliver by courier only. We have to drive 2 hours to pick that parcel up. No courier will deliver to our remote property. And there are no courier services in the rural town where our post office is located. I have to make arrangements with a business in another regional location to accept courier deliveries for us. Which is very inconvenient for us. But it's a small price to pay for the lifestyle we enjoy.

Therefore, all parcels are mailed via Australia Post. Which delivers all over the world. It's the only delivery service available to us.

We have no ability to compete with Amazon. And their distribution services.

I just checked the Australia Post site. And they don't differentiate between Northern Ireland. Or the Republic Of Ireland. Only 'Ireland' is a destination.

I've posted quite a few parcels to Ireland, so I don't expect there to be a problem. And if you're not affected by the EU restrictions, then only the postage charge of AUD$45 applies.

Is this of help to you, Andy? ~Carol❤

 

[Carol Jones]

Hey Carol,

Thank you for such a great answer!

When you talk about the disbelief of others, I know exactly what you're talking about. And I feel that when the disbelief is greater, the greater my motivation and drive is, to prove them wrong. I very welcome that.

The reason I asked you these questions is because of the same reason you asked me this question: WHY?

I want to know why people do certain things. What their motivation is.

Because when I see people like you helping others and reaching out to others, that inspires me.

If I know your why, I can achieve the same results.

G'day again @MarekvBeek from rural Australia,

What a fantastic comment! Thank you.

Not everyone. Some people just don't want to be touched.

But most people want others to reach out to them and let them know we care.

That we care about them buying from us.

That we care about what they think.

Caring about other people is such an easy option. And one of the most rewarding.

But it seems to be the one option most avoided in business.

I hope we stay in touch. And keep connecting. ~Carol❤

 

[Carol Jones]

I have one major takeaway from all of this...

"What would Carol do?" - something anyone here should ask themselves when faced in a tough situation.

After reading these 4 short pages of this thread, I've gleaned so much insight from you telling your story. Even picked up a new word, "salubrious". Thanks a ton for sharing.

G'day @Dark Water from rural Australia,

Love the compliment. Thank you!

We roll over too easily. Rather than fight the hard battles.

Because confrontation is difficult. And is not what most of us want in our life.

But if we don't fight the hard battles, we lose who we are. And that's a terrible price to pay for wanting the easy way out.

The secret is to know how to pick the right battles.

Not to fight every battle. That's exhausting. But to fight those battles which will rob us of the next step. Which will get us to where we want to be.

Developing a spine of steel comes with practice.

It's a pleasure to share my story with you Dark Water. And I hope we stay connected. If ever I can help you, please let me know. ~Carol❤

 

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[Carol Jones]

This post alone is enough for another thread titled: How to Deliver Superior Customer Service

1. Always be clear and upfront about your fees.

2. Create a separate shopping cart for a different demographic.

3. Take Amex & Diners. So many shops don't even take AMEX.

4. Send a follow up email close to the end of your warranty. Let them know you're happy to solve problems, if there are any.

5. Include customer's postage in your refund!

G'day Chen @Magneto C,

Thank you! Your clarity on what we offer is outstanding. I'm so appreciative of you enumerating these points.

I hope we stay in touch. ~Carol❤

 

[Andy Black]

G'day again @Andy Black,

Thank you for all that information. No. I didn't know the difference between Northern Ireland. And the Republic of Ireland. But I do now. What an education that is!

Regarding how our parcels are delivered. Australia Post is our only option.

We live and work from our remote rural property. Where we drive an hour to buy a litre of milk.

Couriers. Or special services. Are not available to us.

Many online businesses in Australia deliver by courier only. We have to drive 2 hours to pick that parcel up. No courier will deliver to our remote property. And there are no courier services in the rural town where our post office is located. I have to make arrangements with a business in another regional location to accept courier deliveries for us. Which is very inconvenient for us. But it's a small price to pay for the lifestyle we enjoy.

Therefore, all parcels are mailed via Australia Post. Which delivers all over the world. It's the only delivery service available to us.

We have no ability to compete with Amazon. And their distribution services.

I just checked the Australia Post site. And they don't differentiate between Northern Ireland. Or the Republic Of Ireland. Only 'Ireland' is a destination.

I've posted quite a few parcels to Ireland, so I don't expect there to be a problem. And if you're not affected by the EU restrictions, then only the postage charge of AUD$45 applies.

Is this of help to you, Andy? ~Carol❤

Yes, that info helps thanks.

You may find a way to deliver into the UK without the tarrif if you investigate further how I'm getting deliveries from the mainland UK into Dublin, via Northern Ireland.
Maybe you can go the other way? Dublin to the mainland UK via Northern Ireland?

 

[DeppyJ]

Carol,

Thank you. Loved your post and your story.
Greetings from Greece.

xx,
Deppy

 

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[Carol Jones]

Carol,

Thank you. Loved your post and your story.
Greetings from Greece.

xx,
Deppy

Good morning Deppy @DeppyJ from Oz,

Thank you! Very much appreciated.

Greece. The cradle of Western civilisation. Where would the western world be without you?!

Where in Greece do you live? On one of those gorgeous islands? Or on the mainland?

Tell me more about you! What's your story?

Especially as I so LOVE your avatar. What made you choose that one? ~Carol❤

 

[Walter Hay]

@Carol Jones I have read every post and your full story on your website, and I love it all. As I read your story I cheered you on every step of the way.

I like the mindset that demands that you provide real value, and real service.

I like the fact that you pulled yourselves up by the bootstraps.

I like your website. There are too many sites built by people wanting to show off their website building skills, but don't present a customer-friendly, helpful and ethical attitude.

I like the fact that you employ people with disabilities. I did the same in my second business and like you, I got to love the people who were doing that work for me. Yes, "Made with love" is a good description, because I found them dedicated and conscientious, and overall a delight to work with.

And maybe I was glued to your website story because I was born near where you now live and operate your business. Having operated both of my international businesses from rural locations I understand the difficulties, but having escaped the rat race I wouldn't have it any other way.

To sit at my desk, looking out of my office window with cattle and kangaroos grazing next to my garden fence has been priceless.

Now that I am retired, I am like you, giving back. It's a great feeling, and incidentally it's an antidote to the dreaded emptiness that so many people feel when they retire.



Congratulations on the way the power of recommendation has worked well for you. When the well known personality wrote: "This is beyond a doubt the Rolls Royce of ironing board covers", you were really on the map.

I have had a similar experience when on another forum that I no longer frequent, a grateful member wrote: "Walter's book is the Rosetta Stone of importing." Rather extravagant, and I had no idea that so many people knew that the Rosetta Stone was the key to unlocking the mysteries of hieroglyphics, but book sales skyrocketed.

Getting those recommendations is well worth the effort. Congratulations on persevering.

In Post #38 you wrote: "Everything comes at a price. To succeed, you have to want to pay the price." That reminded me of the statement by Robert DeCastella the great Australian marathon runner: "You have to be prepared to cross the pain threshold."

Cheap ironing board covers from the big stores fail so quickly that I have been buying more than one at a time. Now you have another customer delighted to have found you.

Walter