Rebecca has Some Insights on What She Sees In Her Experience as The Key to Success in a PACK & SEND Business.
Episode Timeline
- 00:00 – Intro
- 00:27 – Rebecca’s two franchise locations and her view on distance
- 01:17 – Career start at Bunnings at 14 years old
- 02:15 – Career path through Bunnings
- 03:13 – Setting up a new Bunnings store
- 05:01 – Responding to a major competitor
- 07:04 – Leaving Bunnings after 14 years, consulting to a restaurant
- 09:00 – Retail consulting on merchandising and ranges
- 10:15 – Helping partner in another restaurant while planning next move
- 10:40 – Returning to workforce after kids, seeking flexibility beyond hospitality
- 11:29 – Searching for a business in “anything but hospitality”
- 13:13 – Narrowing down options, initial disinterest in franchising
- 14:17 – Discovering PACK & SEND and logistics industry
- 15:29 – Early impressions of franchising
- 16:11 – Viewing it as a true ‘network’ of collaboration
- 17:53 – Why collaboration matters to Rebecca
- 19:34 – Researching PACK & SEND and visiting stores before joining
- 20:58 – Decision to buy into PACK & SEND
- 23:09 – “We’re in a really high growth area”
- 24:04 – Buying a 2nd location after 6 months
- 25:57 – Day-to-day operations and hiring more staff for balance
- 27:33 – Secrets to PACK & SEND success
- 28:25 – Moving military tanks to France — solving huge logistics challenges
- 29:53 – Being honest and building genuine connections
- 31:13 – Wrap up
Rebecca O’Brien started working at 14 with Bunnings and moved into their leadership team opening stores across the country. Now a mum with three young kids, three businesses, and three dogs! Rebecca and her partner are going full tilt in life and business, and are also close on their third PACK & SEND store on top of the others and the restaurant they also own.
Rebecca loved her time with Bunnings which was truly career defining in experience and even sending her through University. After wanting a change in direction after 14 years at Bunnings, Rebecca jumped into consulting to retail and restaurants to help with range and merchandising.
After children (twins) and working in their restaurant, Rebecca was looking to get back in to the workforce in ‘anything but hospitality’. The lack of flexibility in the industry and a desire to have a better lifestyle saw a broad criteria for a business search.
PACK & SEND was basically found by accident, and led to deep research into the logistics industry broadly before jumping in. A bit over 2 years into ownership, and a third store is clearly on the agenda!
