A good time for entrepreneurs
AUSTRALIA’S shift towards a more flexible way of working will open up brand new opportunities for all kinds of people, according to Kate Morris, the founder of online retailer Adore Beauty.
“This has really levelled the playing field, because that requirement of sitting in an office for 12 hours every day is gone,” she said.
“Going forward, work is going to be much more measured on what value you’re able to add, that’s it.”
Ms Morris started Australia’s first online beauty site in 1999 from a garage in Melbourne at the age of 21, starting with just $12,000 and two little known cosmetic companies on board.
Adore Beauty has now grown to a $100m business, boasting more than 250 brands, over 13,000 products, a 4000sq m warehouse and hundreds of thousands of customers.
She says the pandemic will probably lead to a new wave of entrepreneurs starting tech businesses.
During COVID-19 Adore Beauty has continued to grow and hire new people, and launched a new YouTube channel.
“We find ourselves suited to a crisis, I think,” Ms Morris said.
“We’ve been through the GFC, and it’s a skill that you absolutely develop over 20 years in terms of managing different scenarios and communicating regularly with the team. It definitely presents an additional challenge when you have kids at home but we are continuing to grow, which is great.”
Ms Morris is a speaker on Tuesday at VOGUE CODES VIRTUAL, a free series of webinars designed to empower future female innovators.