Say Hello Dolly
If you are seeking entrepreneurial inspiration on how to make money by thinking outside the box, look no further then DIY entrepreneur Angela Beer.
With limited funds, but a good idea and bigger vision, Angela launched her company, Hello Dolly in 2006 with five products.
Since then the range has expanded to 37 products, with 15 more on the way. Hello Dolly products are available in 700 stores in her home country of New Zealand, plus 2000 others in Australia. Angela has lost track of the number of international stores carrying her range.
On top of this, she has six distributors operating in Britain, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, Canada, the Middle East and Europe.
She has also forged partnerships with six distributors operating in Britain, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, Canada, the Middle East and Europe.
What Is Hello Dolly?
Hello Dolly provides a range of DIY products designed specifically for women, from pink trimmed hammers with diamantes, to gardening tools and even a stud finder; sorry ladies, this one only works on wall studs.
Don’t think this is just a range for the ladies though, Angela says that 30% of her customers are men and admits that she wants to bring out more colors in the future.
Breer got her break on the New Zealand series of Dragons’ Den, where she appeared before the potential investors with a team of pink-clad models demonstrating how the idea would bring flair to the tool trade.
“I knew it would be a high-risk strategy. I didn’t want to look stupid but I was looking for an investor. It was all smoke and mirrors,” admits Beer.
“The riding crop was really a fishing rod and the toolkit was spray-painted pink.”
Barry Colman offered to buy in, but Breer had second thoughts, not wanting to relinquish half her business before her idea had got off the ground.
Deciding to go it alone, she researched manufacturing partners and took a solo trip to China.
It seems to be a wise move and something others should consider before taking partners on board, simply to gain financial support.
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