Meet the Founder: Bronwyn Smith, Promoloco
Tell me more about where the idea for Promoloco came from.
I started Promoloco over 3 years ago, I had been working in the promotional product industry for a long time but it was pretty outdated. I could see a lot of space for innovation so I decided to take the plunge and go out on my own. The concept behind Promoloco has since evolved into a more sustainable promotional product option because that’s where I saw the demand and also where I had been heading on my own personal journey.
Has sustainability always been important to you or did you have an a-ha moment? Was it in the form of a ‘show-bag?’ 😜
Haha, I have definitely received some junky show-bags in my time. I think I’ve always felt a bit icky about cheap promo, but my big a-ha moment was one day when I was visiting a client, I was walking from my car and passed someones hard rubbish waiting to be collected on their nature strip. Inside a broken desk was a cheap promotional drink bottle... you know the ones you get from sporting clubs that always leak? I couldn’t help but mourn for the brand and how something with their logo on it is going to end up in landfill. It’s not a good look and obviously it’s not good for the environment either. That’s why we create promotional products that respect brands and the environment 💙
How long had you been running Promoloco before applying for Atto 2020? Was being a startup founder always part of the career plan?
3 years.I have always been entrepreneurial. I wrote my first business plan when I was about 9, for a clothing store that also sold cupcakes. I designed the logo and the uniform. Then when I was at Uni I had a music events business that taught me a lot about business through making a lot of mistakes. It’s only been since I started Promoloco and through my time in the Atto program that I realised how capable I was in tech and that my career could go in that direction.
What was the first thing you did to get Promoloco up and running?
I think it was admin stuff like re-activating my ABN, registering Promoloco as a business and purchasing the domains.
What were you doing prior to starting the business? Did you start it as a side-hustle or did you go all in from the get-go?
I went all in with Promoloco initially and then after a few horror stories with building the first website I had to go back out and get a job to pay my way. So, about 12 months in I was working full time and then running Promoloco as a side-hustle. Once there was enough business to sustain me again, I went back to full time.
What would be the one piece of advice you’d give to other female founders looking to take the leap into something new?
If you are starting your own business my advice is really define your offering and know you don’t have to be everything to everyone. Once you’ve got a clear picture of what your brand and business is, everything else will be much easier. Maybe you need to join an accelerator program like Atto? 😉
2020 was such a big year for you because not only were you going through Atto Accelerator, you also became a mum! How did you find the juggle? Any tips for mums thinking about applying for Atto 2021?!
What a wild ride 2020 was! The juggle was more of a struggle but I’m definitely stronger for it. The Atto program is flexible. The education session each week is a must attend but otherwise you can work on your startup around your schedule. Atto started during stage 4 lockdown in Melbourne and so I lost all my baby sitting support, but I was able to work on the course at night or during naps and fellow founders in my pod group didn’t mind me bringing baby Penny along to Zoom calls when I had to.
What does 2021 (and beyond) have in store for you as a founder?
The new version of the Promoloco website is about to be launched in the coming weeks, the first iteration since my time in the program. We have a stock range of ready to go eco-friendly promotional products, as well as our creative consultation service, for those more creative merchandise projects. Beyond that we will be offering a new custom on-boarding pack service later in the year and exploring more options for local manufacturing using sustainable materials.
How do you think the accelerator program helped you in your business?
The Atto program has given me a lot of confidence and the foundation knowledge I missed when first starting Promoloco. Since completing the program I’ve gone back through and overhauled everything from my legal contracts to automation. The accelerator has been a complete game-changer. Thank you for having me in the program!