Q 1. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your
business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple
locations/ cities.
Ans: We are a family owned and operated Magic Seal manufacturer and supplier in Victoria. The magnetic fly screen idea was conceived in New Zealand and has distributors in most states of Australia. We often supply to South Australia as well. Most of our screens are installed by us in Melbourne and all surrounding suburban areas. We regularly travel around Geelong and Shepparton areas also.
Q 2. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational
or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: I purchased Magic Seal Victoria P/L in September 2000. Prior to that I was a sales rep for
Blinds & Shutters. It had been several years since the last owner had moved on so the
business only had a small client base that the NSW branch had been maintaining.
We started from scratch operating from the garage at home and raising a young family.
The first 5 years were very seasonal and I supplemented our income with part time jobs
throughout the winter. 17 years later and we have a screen maker and my manufacturing
operations working from a factory in Braeside with the office and some screens also from
home. We have an installer who works during the busy summer months and a young
assistant we are training up as an installer.
Q 3. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an
existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: I saw Magic Seal as an opportunity to try working for myself. While selling shutters there was
obviously the need for magnetic fly screens in Victoria especially to be attached to the
back of shutters in certain situations.
It was a huge gamble to take out a loan and buy the business but I was confident with the
sales and installations and my wife was confident with the manufacturing and office needs.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: 1. Never give up. The days can be long but the satisfaction of success is huge. Never
live beyond your means in the business and personally. There are definitely tough
times starting a new business.
2. Honesty, Integrity and Punctuality. If you commit to date or time then you must
deliver. Over the 17 years I can count on one hand the number of jobs we just could
not fulfill in time. We worked throughout the night if necessary just to honour our
promises.
3. Quality. The products we sell are not the cheapest so we must always offer quality. If
there is ever a problem we replace or fix it. We promise a quality product and a
quality installation so that’s what we deliver.
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: 1. Confidence – Appropriate Attire & Attitude
2. Knowledge – In the products you are selling
3. Stamina – All problems are yours to solve, all jobs are yours to make sure they are
completed.
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: As our business is seasonal – the winters are more relaxed however definitely 3-4 days per week
guaranteed, Extra time should be spent on marketing and follow ups.
In the summer, it is a 6-7 day per week job often weekdays are easily 12-14 hours per day.
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Our very successful Husband & Wife Partnership. A great product and not growing too fast.
There is a fine line between the profits of a multi-million-dollar business and a successful small
business, Keeping it small gives you more quality control.
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business?
Ans: Nowadays websites, SEO, SEM & Google Adwords are essential.
Years ago, it was Yellow Pages & Local Papers.
We have always been at the HIA Home Shows once a year.
Occasionally we do letter box drops in areas where our screens would be needed.
Q 9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about
getting it?
Ans: We purchased our business from the owner over 6 years of one off large payments in
summer when we had made the funds.
We have never had investors. We chose to work within our means and always paid our bills
before ourselves.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Hard work. Perseverance and Spending within your means.
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: In 5-10 years, I plan to have a full-time installer and another screen maker,
I would like to work less hours and concentrate more on sales and less on installations.
I really do need to manage the business more and lessen the workload however it is very
difficult to let go of control.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: My uncle has an engine reconditioning business in country Victoria – North Vic Engines. He
began on his rural farm property and over the last 10-15 years it has grown into a large
billion-dollar business that now operates from Cobram. It is the largest engine reconditioning
business in Australia and is now mostly operated by his son who has renewed and fresh
ambition to grow it further.
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Lisa, our screen maker is phenomenal. She loves the work, is a perfectionist, fast & accurate.
She works her own hours and is totally reliable, she has been our best employee ever.
Installers are more difficult to control as every job is different. However, when they do a job
well it is fantastic. If there is ever a problem I promptly attend to it and rectify the situation.
Company Detail :
Business Name Magic Seal Victoria
Address 55 Island Point Avenue
City Waterways
State Victoria
Zip Code 3195
Tel No (03) 9769 0445