After retiring from the wine industry, Tyce Light was at a loose end.
He had a passion for wine and gourmet food that spanned decades and a love for his four legged friends. Tyce decided to combine these two interests and branch out into the gourmet dog food business.
Barklee’s Bakehouse was founded to provide nutritious, quality food specially formulated to support dog health and wellbeing.
The pet industry in Australia is estimated to be worth $13 billion per year and growing, so there was a huge market for these products. However, being a new entrant into an already crowded marketplace required specialist support to help Tyce build a business that could go the distance.
Through IntoJobs’ Self Employment Assistance program, Tyce receives mentoring, business advice, and quarterly reports to help him keep his business moving in the right direction.
Tyce says the program made a difference right from the start. “The business plan had good structure and helped with my business development”, he said.
Each Self-Employment Assistance participant receives a range of free, flexible and tailored supports to start and grow their business, including small business coaching, workshops, small business training, and more.
For those just starting out, there are a series of ‘Exploring Self-Employment Workshops’ which help participants gain an understanding of what’s involved in starting a new business, generating new business ideas, and researching and assessing the viability of existing business ideas to determine whether small business ownership is right for them.
For existing micro-business owners who aren’t eligible for small business coaching, there are business health checks available which include an assessment of your business operation and suggestions to improve the viability of the business. Sessions are delivered over three hours with a business mentor who has proven small business expertise, sound knowledge of business management practices, and an understanding of coaching and mentoring.
As for Barklee’s Bakehouse – he has wrapped up his time in the Self-Employment Assistance program, expanded the list of stock across three states (NSW, VIC, SA), and increased the business’s online presence.
So whether it’s a seed of an idea or a side hustle you want to turn into your main gig, contact IntoJobs and find out how they can support you on your self-employment journey.
