How to launch and run a business on a shoestring | #548

Keen to know how to launch and run a business on a tight budget? Andrew MacDonald started and runs a business currently valued at $50M. And he’s adamant that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a lot of money. In fact, his first website (which he had for 3-years) cost just $500! It’s a frugal episode 548 of The (12 year-old, award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing podcast.

A Little More About Ringer’s Western founder Andrew MacDonald …

Righto, let’s meet Andrew MacDonald who’s the founder of the Aussie clothing brand Ringers Western that designs, manufactures and sells western clothing for men, women and children. Think fashionable cowboy clothes!

Ten years on and the brand has been valued at over $50M, employs 75 staff, a significant online store and 250 wholesalers nationally.

What’s interesting about Andrew’s business journey is that he’s a soldier by trade; with no experience running a business, much less a fickle fashion business, until the idea came to him around a campfire in the rugged Kimberley region of Western Australia.

He launched the business on a shoestring, has never gone into debt (the brand’s first website cost $500 and kept them going for three years!) and has some very interesting thoughts on employee morale, marketing and customer service.

I started off by asking him where the anime Ringers Western came from.

Timbo’s Top 3 Attention Grabbers

1. His positive attitude toward growing and running a business. As he so rightly said, “we can over-complicate life and business!”
2. I loved his story about buying drinks for the group that were wearing the Ringers Western brand. It’s those little one-percenters that can make all the difference to how your business is perceived by others.
3. I love the fact that he had a $500 website for the first three years of business!

Other episodes related to marketing on a budget

How smart social media usage grew this 3rd generation chocolate shop

Teen entrepreneur Josh Apitz is on a mission to save Aussie lives

10 steps to moderate business success with Hotwire Heating’s Luke Chant

Last Week’s Episode of The Small Business Big Marketing Podcast

Episode 457 – How to make funny sales videos proven to generate millions of dollars in sales.

Thanks for tuning in. May your marketing be the best marketing.