Two - time business enterprise founder Jess Ruhfus started with a close non - real web — today , she works with over 10,000 stain and her business has sold out of products four multiplication and counting .
It’s a massive accomplishment to start one super successful business from scratch — let alone two — but that’s exactly what entrepreneur and founder Jess Ruhfus has managed to do within a single decade.
From being a junior publicist with a limited network, to now running two thriving businesses — one of which has sold out four times (and counting!) — BuzzFeed Australia spoke to her for the inside scoop on how she managed to do it.
1.First up, tell us about yourself!
" Hello ! I ’m Jess , I run two super unrelated and different business sector from my home in the Northern Beaches of Sydney . I dead do it creative merchandising , which is what pick up me a 30 Under 30 Award in Entrepreneurship , and links my two brandsCollabosaurusandNo.2 Co.
I start out wanting to work in picture show , and I was lucky enough to beg my way onto sets andThe Great Gatsbywhen Baz [ Luhrmann ] was shoot here [ in Sydney ] .
In the end , I started my career in manner atomic number 59 — and quickly got frustrated with how many growth opportunities were being missed by small business who did n’t have the budget for publicizer theatrical performance . coolheaded coaction were happening all around me , in case , societal media and with circumscribed edition products , but I was a Jr without a web and the whole pitching process was super sentence consume .
So , with dating apps rising in popularity [ at the time ] , I created Collabosaurus as a ‘ match - Godhead for brands ’ in 2015 . Since then , Collabosaurus has develop to house over 10,500 brands .
Then , after being trapped in an apartment with a housemate through COVID-19 lockdown , my ecommerce make No.2 Co was born and has since sold out five time . "
2.In your own words, describe what your two businesses are about.
" Collabosaurusis like a dating web site for brand . The platform match - makes brands with mark merchandising collaborations — and is 25 times less expensive than digital advertising , where business big and modest can ‘ cabbage right-hand ’ on partnership opportunities that leverage currenciesotherthan cash .
No.2 Cois a post - loaded perfume drop that has your back(side ) . Stylish enough to display , No.2 Co is a beautiful sweetness dropper for the loo to keep your reputation intact .
Ugly aerosol posterior are not only an eyesore , but I did n’t deem them effective for our household . So , I created an essential oil based chemical formula that is pipetted into the loo post - affluent , to nullify unwanted look . I also made trusted the promotion is stunning so that the chic No.2 nursing bottle can sit proudly on your bathroom shelf . "
3.You went eight years between the launch of Collabosaurus and No.2 Co — tell us what drove you to launch each?
" Both businesses were born out of a thwarting I had personally !
For Collabosaurus , I found brand partnerships extremely time go through and wanted a solution that made merchandising collabs well-fixed to get at .
For No.2 , I was n’t a fan of aerosol bomb spray , synthetical fragrances and stinky packaging ( I was also survive in an apartment with two boys , so as you’re able to imagine the need for No.2 Co was predominate ! ) "
4.For No.2 Co, roughly how long did it take from idea to the brand launching? And what was involved?
" No.2 Co took about a year to launch from the time I came up with the mind . I was mix formulations in my kitchen at menage , trialling different scents and then doling out samples to friends and syndicate to get feedback .
I had a really clear musical theme for aesthetics and branding , and so there was a lot of back and forth with promotion supplier . I was build up No.2 Co as a dead on target side - hustle , so I took my time with it .
We launched with 1,500 social unit that we mixed and bottle by hand . This hatful sold out in a few calendar month and I was cursorily trying to happen a manufacture partner who could bring out No.2 Co at larger quantity !
Uber Packagewas super utilitarian at this stage , because the manufacturer would courier samples via Uber same - daylight for approval . We ran multiple sampling round with the manufacturer , until we arrived on a perfectly oppose ware that was quick to produce in Melbourne . This stage of the unconscious process was sped up significantly because of curb to curb delivery with Uber Package , and what ’s more , I could watch the delivery in real - clock time via the app . "
5.As a business owner of two distinct brands, what are the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
" The two businesses are incredibly different and also at different stages . I ’ve definitely learned a circle from building Collabosaurus that I can lend oneself to No.2 . For example , I did n’t pine away a bunch of money on societal advertizing for No.2 as I did on Collabosaurus in the early daylight !
With No.2 Co , I was focused on achieving product marketplace fit chop-chop , gathering feedback and retell from the first small passel of No.2 Co. However , with Collabosaurus I spent big on the first mathematical product alternatively of building an MVP ( minimal viable Cartesian product ) to test whether customers would bear for it first . This error with Collabosaurus was an expensive one , and set the business back about two years as we tried to ‘ make the plane while flying . ’
A challenge for No.2 Co has been cashflow in a product - found business . I love unit economic science , but there are more obscure costs in ware - free-base line of work than there are in services , so I wish I had engaged a financial expert from the get go to sense - arrest my number .
There ’s also a longer rails to launch anything because you ’re reliant on manufacturing business and provider , so my timeline anticipation had to alter . Using tech prick across the gamut of business cognitive process has been a game - changer , we useUber Packageto rush up sample delivery , Collabosaurus to streamline and access brand collaboration , not to mention other apps to reduce prosecute social culture medium content together quickly and to automatise review collection . "
6.And what have been your biggest highlights?
" For Collabosaurus , there have been so many ! Winning a 30 Under 30 award , speaking at a summit to over 900 people , pull client who are really family leadership , hitting the milestone of over 10,000 brand on the political program and connecting with the cool people in startup has been incredible .
For No.2 Co , we ’ve deal out four times so far — always out of the blue . An international celebrity has a bottle in her bathroom and there are just so many opportunities for ontogenesis with this business . No.2 Co is a fantastic creative outlet for me and there are so many fun political campaign to derive ! "
7.What learnings did you take from your first business into your second?
" After a full yr running No.2 Co , I ran a deep dive on all of our analytics and realised that we achieved the same monthly taxation that take Collabosaurus three years to hit . I ’ve been able to apply learning , strategy and technical school tool a lot faster the second time around , and with more confidence .
I ’m also thankful for my connection of friends and oeuvre contacts who have also helped importantly with No.2 Co. When I started Collabosaurus , I knew no one in the industry , I was work my way up from out-and-out scratch ! With No.2 Co , plenty of the growth and intro I ’ve seen have come up from the amazing masses around me , who I would n’t have meet had I not started Collabosaurus eight days ago . "
8.Finally, what advice do you have for anyone who wants to do something similar? Or anything else you want to share?
It ’s definitely not always rose wine , and not always easy , but it ’s fantastically rewarding and also develops your acquirement in a fashion that no Book of Job can do . No.2 Co was born out of a defeat that turn into an idea — and it has been such a joy to work on . "
For small businesses and side hustlers, on-demand delivery can be an absolute game changer.
Uber Packagelets you hold a delivery easily , usually within the hour , similar to how you may call for a ride . you could even organise a package to be sent to YOU from a designated sender . Discover morehere !
