By KATRINA BRANDON
THE Gippsland ‘wonders’ start in our community, including many businesses, one of which is Madebytaylahrose.
Owner of Madebytaylahrose and Churchill resident Taylah Foster is up for the 7 News Young Achiever Award’s Josh’s Rainbow Eggs Ethical Business Award (REEBA).
Josh’s REEBA is about sharing stories of other young Victorian business owners who prioritise more than just profits, focusing on contributing to the community and using business as a force for good.
Josh’s REEBA is open to young business owners or employees driving ethical business practices and improvements in small to medium enterprises, start-ups, not-for-profits, charities and non-government organisations.
Ms Foster, who is familiar with the awards, said she was honoured to be nominated.
“I’m really excited to be in the running again. I have changed what I have been doing with my business to be more environmentally friendly. I have started to get materials and textiles from the op shop and places that would otherwise end up in landfills, and I have also been using scrap materials from my creations to give those items an extra life,” she said.
“I am involved in the small business community locally and internationally by using my social media to promote other small businesses and share tips and advice.”
Ms Foster has been running her business for 10 years.
She started by making bows and selling them on Etsy.
The inspiration behind the business came from wanting to give someone a gift when she was 15-years-old, but had no money.
That left her with a creative spirit to come up with a gift. She sought inspiration from Google, where she saw hair tutorials for people her age and thought of bows. Soon enough, her business thrived, and she started her online business on a global scale, sending bows as far away as the United States and Canada. Now, she also makes scrunchies.
“At first, it was mostly online while I was still in school. I did reach out when I was in Year 12 and maybe 11,” Ms Foster recalled.
“I had retailers in Queensland and overseas as well. I have quite a few retailers within Australia, but I also use stocklists overseas, mostly in the United States and Canada, that still sell my products, which is really cool to think about.”
Alongside her online business, Ms Foster also posts videos on YouTube so people can follow her company, keep up with new trends, and be a part of an online community.
Ms Foster said her online presence has allowed her to make friends worldwide.
“Making the hair bows was a really good creative outlet for me, and it was a great way to meet other small businesses and other people online through my Instagram page,” she said.
“When I first started, my biggest buyers were in the United States. I met many people overseas with the same interests as I do, which is great. I have also met many friends online.”
Besides making friends, the business has allowed Ms Foster to be financially well off and even able to buy her own home to continue making bows and crunchies in another capacity.
“I have always tried to believe in myself and that I will achieve great things,” she said.
“I had so much support from everyone in my life and my business. From my business of making hair bows and scrunchies, my business has evolved beyond that. I have been able to afford to buy my first house and support myself financially from it.”
One challenge that has come with Ms Foster’s business is the rising cost of materials. She told the Latrobe Valley Express that she has had to adapt to the price change and that people understood these changes. She said fabrics went from $8 a metre to $25-30 for the same thing.
Overall, Ms Foster is excited to continue running her business and will be shifting to more online content in the future.
“I have really enjoyed making the blog and connecting with other small business owners online. The scrunchies probably won’t be as popular in the next few years. Now, I think bows are coming back in,” she said.
For more information on the Young Achiever Awards, go to awardsaustralia.com/young-achiever-awards/vic/award-entry-criteria/
To follow Taylah’s journey, you can go to her Instagram or Facebook: @madebytaylahrose
The Young Achiever Awards presentation will be on June 14.
