GARYCORMACK, 50, Snap printing

GOLD MINER DIGS UP NEW OPPORTUNITY

Gary has spent almost all his working life in the gold mining sector. A South African metallurgist by trade, he has worked as a consultant or freelance agent in Africa, the Philippines and Malaysia.

“I was approached to come to a mining operation in Kalgoorlie almost seven years ago. I worked there for six years and became an Australian citizen.”

But after 28 years of gold mining Gary was ready for change. Ready to make his own decisions about where to live and work.

“It had been rewarding but I needed a bit of a change. I was dictated to by the location of the mine. It didn’t always work for the family. I wanted to get into a small business that I could be operating.”

It took nine months before Gary came across a local, existing Snap business up for sale.

“I had a few discussions with the previous owner and it appealed to me because there was sales and production and design. It ticked all the boxes for me. I would not be just sitting in a shopfront waiting for customers to come in. I’m out and about in the community, explaining what print can do.”

He did plenty of research to reassure himself that the business was well run.

“When I was starting to engage with Snap we got the disclosure documents and all the franchisees’ contacts. I phoned eight or nine across the country, who were all very positive.”

Once Gary had made the decision to purchase the existing business it was full steam ahead to get up to speed with the business operations.

“There’s quite an extensive two-week training session in Sydney, and for someone like me who’s had no industry knowledge, it really gave me a good standing to go forward,” he says.

Gary took over the Kalgoorlie site in April 2019. He bought 70 per cent of the business outright and took out a loan for the remaining 30 per cent. He’s really happy with his decision.

“It was pretty good, the first month. We achieved a lot but not everything we wanted to. I’ve been working on admin, which is critical. I’m used to having an IT or an HR department, so any problems you have you need to sort out yourself.”

Gary took on the business alone, and was naturally apprehensive. But his confidence grows daily, he says.

“At the moment I’m very comfortable with the processes. I have an area manager touching base frequently, there are a lot of people available to help.

“I want to grow the business a little, but it’s not about fast track growth. I want to have it sustainable and getting involved in the community. When you stay in smaller communities, everyone rallies around, helping out.”

His growth goals are focused on boosting revenue within the existing site rather than adding an extra location – the community just isn’t big enough to sustain it, he says.

As the business grows Gary intends to employ a couple more staff members to add to the two part-timers and one full-time worker he inherited from the previous owner.

He has signed up for a 10-year term, with one option to renew. He is clear about business progression. Over the next six to seven years he plans to be very active within it, then step back from a fulltime role and nurture a new generation.

“Ultimately someone within will want to buy it,” he says. “It’s supporting my lifestyle and keeping me out of mischief. I’m putting away some retirement funds to be a self-funded retiree.”

The reality of his franchisee lifestyle in the Snap printing business is a weekday work life.

“I’m actually working shorter hours than I was in the mine. I worked 5.30 am till 6 pm then. And I was away from home most of the time. Now the store is open 8.30 till 5, and I’m five minutes from home. I get to work earlier to get things done, but the hours are good.”

Gary has plenty of time to indulge in his favourite leisure pursuits: hockey and golf, bushwalking and hiking on the weekend.

“Monday to Friday is a good benefit,” he says.