Today we are introducing you to Margaret, the small business owner of Boomerang Jerky in Sydney NSW.
Margaret started a small business called SNM Creative Designs in 2020, making products with Indigenous designs printed onto them. After meeting Garry, her local Many Rivers business coach, Margaret started Boomerang Jerky, selling four kangaroo jerky flavours. She has goals to get this healthy product recognised by national sporting bodies and to grow her range of flavours and the types of meats she offers.
“That constant reassurance that it is going to be okay and that I can do this. The confidence and belief in my business idea and in myself even though I have not done this before. I feel reassured calling Garry. It is the first thing that I do if I ever have any questions.”
Watch the Yarpa Hub’s video about Magaret and Boomerang Jerky.
Read more about Margaret’s business journey so far.
Meet Margaret
Meet MargaretI attended the Yarpa Hub, and Garry, the Sydney-based Many Rivers business coach was there. During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, they invited Garry to hold a virtual workshop, and they also invited me. Garry did a great presentation about Many Rivers and starting a business.
When COVID-19 restrictions calmed down in 2020, I started SNM Creative Spirits and made masks. I would post them on Instagram, and people would message me and request particular styles. That is how I started being an entrepreneur. I designed my own Indigenous art insulated coffee cup sleeve, inspired by Starbucks running out of coffee sleeves! I then started making bags and towels with Indigenous designs. I can customise the bags to material. This is the business I was talking about at the workshop that Garry was at.
After meeting Garry at this workshop, I reached out to pitch my Boomerang Jerky business idea to him. Initially, it was going to be called Boomerang Kangaroo Jerky, but I decided to leave options open to introduce different types of meat. At the moment, all the products are made with Kangaroo meat, and I have four flavours – original, lemon myrtle, mild and hot.
I have a public speaking background, and I used to work for NSW Health with the Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV). Before that, I was a Sherriff of the court for nine years. I did a few years with the Aboriginal Legal Service and their prison support unit, and ten years with juvenile justice.
I was a housewife at that point in my life, and I decided it was a good opportunity to start my own business. I decided I didn’t want to work for anyone else anymore. I wasn’t having a good experience towards the end of some of my contracts, and I didn’t want to do it anymore. I am at that age where I want to work for me and be my own boss.
Working with Many Rivers
Working with Many RiversI met with Garry late last year. He emailed us after the workshop with some business tips, and I got those ready for him, and I made some samples of my products to take to the first meeting with Garry. He walked me step by step through setting up my business, and then he introduced me to the other Sydney business coach, Ricky. They kept in contact with me after I set up my business to make sure that I was on track. Garry sent me cashflow documents to fill out and showed me how to register my business. He stepped me through the process of setting up the business. I follow every instruction that he has given me and follow the tasks he has given me to make sure I am on track.
That constant reassurance that it is going to be okay and that I can do this. The confidence and belief in my business idea and imyself even though I have not done this before. I feel reassured calling Garry. It is the first thing that I do if I ever have any questions.
Biggest Challenge
Stock is my problem now. Garry and I sat down recently and decided that I must start making products every week. My cashflow is a bit stagnant. We are thinking of getting my product mass produced but that will be a huge cost. So, we are brainstorming ideas of what I can do now to get there. I wanted to test the waters to see the types of people who are buying my products. I have done some markets and Garry has even come down to see me in action.
Biggest Success
Just knowing that I have a product that people are coming back for more.
Biggest Change
I don’t have that pressure of rushing into work every day. At the moment, it is just me and there is no pressure on that side of my life to go to work and show up. It’s more relaxed and it allows me to have time to work on what can I do better in my own business and look at the feedback in my markets. It allows me to be the inspiring person that I want to be. I want to inspire and encourage other people to know that they can do it too.
Future Goals
I want to make more products and get my product out there more. I am going to Coffs Harbour to do the NAIDOC Week 2022 market there.
I see my future like a tunnel where there are lots of different exits. I can see my business having my products in supermarkets, gyms, markets, and vending machines at the NRL centres. It is a great source of protein for athletes. Kangaroo Jerky is 56% protein and 98% fat-free, so I see great potential. I can see my product being sold to the Defence Force because it is long-lasting and nutritious. It is good for muscle recovery. My husband is trying to get Tennis Australia to test my products to try and see what the athletes like. I want all the sporting bodies to know about my product. I have made an arrangement with Yarpa Hub to set up a Facebook and Instagram page for Boomerang Jerky.
Thank you Margaret for sharing your Boomerang Jerky business journey. We look forward to working with you as your business journey continues. Follow Margaret’s first business, SNM Creative on Instagram.
Are You Ready To Start Your Own Business?
We love to encourage people to take the first step towards kick-starting their small business ideas. Do you have a business idea?
CLICK HERE to see if Many Rivers is right for you
B0012561
