FOCUS ON BUSINESS
EYS MEETS WITH
by Natalie O’Connor
ANDREW TAYLOR FROM ADVENTURE CO. “I think what you can give people is yourself and if you give them yourself without expecting anything in return then that’s usually when good things happened.”
A
few months ago, I was walking down the street in a new neighbourhood, when I stumbled across an outdoor/adventure shop. I was intrigued by it. It had the trappings of a modern adventure/outdoor shop, but was rustic, warm and inviting, like a general store in an old country town. The equipment and stock that adorned the outside (and from what I could see on the inside) was fascinating. When I entered, I heard what seemed like two friends talking about a holiday. I felt like the new kid on their first day of school, who knew no one. However, these two people just opened up their conversation to me and made me feel right at home and welcome. I was instantly at ease and meandered about the shop looking at all the gadgets and clothing. I later found out that one of those people who had been so kind was Andrew Taylor or Andy as his friends call him, he was the owner of Adventure Co. in Oatley, NSW. The other was
a customer, who came in to buy hiking boots. From that very first meeting with Andy, what struck me most about him was his passion for what he does. He knows the story of his suppliers; he hand-selected them because they shared the same values as him – sustainable goods, locally made and ethically sourced. He has integrity in the way he runs his business. He is passionate about helping people achieve their dreams, and he loves helping the community. Small businesses such as these are popping up all over Australia. Australia is made up of small businesses. It is the backbone of our society. We are the innovators, creators, workers and dreamers. We “have a go”. We are straightforward, say it like it is. Australians are entrepreneurial. It is therefore not surprising that according to the Australian Bureau of statistics the number of businesses that are actively trading has increased year on year for the last four years. Australian consumers are also gravitating
eYs Magazine
51
