‘The account was in minus': 35yo Aussie reveals how he turned his business around after getting hit hard by the pandemic
Don't miss out on the headlines from Companies. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Today, Alex Cadger is the proud owner of multimillion-dollar business, but he lost absolutely everything five years ago.
Mr Cadger, 35, runs successful catering business The Blonde Butler. He has been catering for as long as he can remember, first as a side hustle in high school, then on the weekends when he worked in marketing, and eventually full-time from 2015.
'It has always been a dream of mine,' he told news.com.au.
Mr Cadger can still remember the baffled response he got 10 years ago when he announced to family and friends that he was going to leave his safe and secure marketing job to focus on serving canapes.
'People thought I was crazy and absolutely mad,' he said.
Mr Cadger runs the very successful business – The Blonde Butler. Picture: Instagram/Alex Cadger
He said it always his dream to run a catering company. Picture: Instagram/Alex Cadger
MORE: Aussie jobs over $150,000 revealed
Mr Cadger wasn't too concerned.
His weekend catering side hustle had reached the point where he was totally booked up for the remainder of the year.
He had reached a fork in the road – should he throw everything into his dream or retreat and try to find some work-life balance?
Mr Cadger chose to take a risk, a calculated one. He did some contract marketing work to support his flourishing catering business, and pretty quickly, even working casually wasn't cutting it.
'I remember sitting on my lunch break on a little casual job I had and my phone was almost combusting because it wouldn't stop ringing with clients wanting to make bookings,' he said.
'I was trying to manage a boss and business.'
He made the decision to quit trying to juggle both and just manage his booming catering business, with immediate success.
The business owner paid himself a moderate wage and funnelled his profits back into the business.
'Every time I got some money coming into the business bank account I'd purchase something for the business,' he said.
'I got a fridge, then I got a van, when I got a bit more money I put refridgeration in the van.'
MORE: Australia's fastest growing salaries
Most of the money he made he just invested back into the business. Picture: Instagram/Alex Cadger
He was living his dream and then the pandemic hit. Picture: Instagram/Alex Cadger
He grew the business to the point where he had two employees and was serving the who's who of Sydney. Then the pandemic hit.
How does a business survive when there's a government-mandated lockdown and people are barely allowed to leave their homes, let alone attend events and host parties?
The answer is that it doesn't.
'When the lockdowns started our office phone was ringing off the hook … and I was just crossing name after name off the planning board,' he said.
The Blonde Butler fell apart overnight, and he had to let go of his two employees pretty quickly.
'I had to close it,' he said.
'The account was in minus during Covid.'
Mr Cadger was heartbroken. He'd worked so hard for years just to 'watch it crumble' within 24 hours.
'I felt quite depressed. I'd put so much time and energy into building a business and a brand,' he said.
The business struggled during COVID. Picture: Istock
He knew his business couldn't function during the pandemic, but he didn't want to give up the kitchen space he was renting, so he hustled hard to keep it.
'I ended up going to pack vegetables in a factory for a few months for $25 an hour,' he said.
'I felt quite depressed. I'd put so much time and energy into building a business and a brand.
Despite struggling, Mr Cadger knew that he couldn't just give up and he had to somehow push through.
The business is now thriving again. Picture: Supplied.
In the end, he managed to pivot, creating cheese and wine boxes to send to people's houses during the lockdowns that helped sustain the business.
Eventually, the lockdowns lifted, and Mr Cadger was filled with fire to bring his business back to life.
'Watching it crumble ignited a spark,' he said.
Ms Cadger didn't do anything drastic to turn things around; he just preserved, kept investing back into the business and refused to quit until The Blonde Butler was back to thriving.
Five years later and Mr Cadger has 60 employees, a cafe, a restaurant, a wedding venue and over 10 vans.
'It took years to recover from but now I'm back on my feet. I'm super proud of what we've achieved and that we're expanding,' he said.
Originally published as 'The account was in minus': 35yo Aussie reveals how he turned his business around after getting hit hard by the pandemic
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
5 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
‘The account was in minus': 35yo Aussie reveals how he turned his business around after getting hit hard by the pandemic
Don't miss out on the headlines from Companies. Followed categories will be added to My News. Today, Alex Cadger is the proud owner of multimillion-dollar business, but he lost absolutely everything five years ago. Mr Cadger, 35, runs successful catering business The Blonde Butler. He has been catering for as long as he can remember, first as a side hustle in high school, then on the weekends when he worked in marketing, and eventually full-time from 2015. 'It has always been a dream of mine,' he told Mr Cadger can still remember the baffled response he got 10 years ago when he announced to family and friends that he was going to leave his safe and secure marketing job to focus on serving canapes. 'People thought I was crazy and absolutely mad,' he said. Mr Cadger runs the very successful business – The Blonde Butler. Picture: Instagram/Alex Cadger He said it always his dream to run a catering company. Picture: Instagram/Alex Cadger MORE: Aussie jobs over $150,000 revealed Mr Cadger wasn't too concerned. His weekend catering side hustle had reached the point where he was totally booked up for the remainder of the year. He had reached a fork in the road – should he throw everything into his dream or retreat and try to find some work-life balance? Mr Cadger chose to take a risk, a calculated one. He did some contract marketing work to support his flourishing catering business, and pretty quickly, even working casually wasn't cutting it. 'I remember sitting on my lunch break on a little casual job I had and my phone was almost combusting because it wouldn't stop ringing with clients wanting to make bookings,' he said. 'I was trying to manage a boss and business.' He made the decision to quit trying to juggle both and just manage his booming catering business, with immediate success. The business owner paid himself a moderate wage and funnelled his profits back into the business. 'Every time I got some money coming into the business bank account I'd purchase something for the business,' he said. 'I got a fridge, then I got a van, when I got a bit more money I put refridgeration in the van.' MORE: Australia's fastest growing salaries Most of the money he made he just invested back into the business. Picture: Instagram/Alex Cadger He was living his dream and then the pandemic hit. Picture: Instagram/Alex Cadger He grew the business to the point where he had two employees and was serving the who's who of Sydney. Then the pandemic hit. How does a business survive when there's a government-mandated lockdown and people are barely allowed to leave their homes, let alone attend events and host parties? The answer is that it doesn't. 'When the lockdowns started our office phone was ringing off the hook … and I was just crossing name after name off the planning board,' he said. The Blonde Butler fell apart overnight, and he had to let go of his two employees pretty quickly. 'I had to close it,' he said. 'The account was in minus during Covid.' Mr Cadger was heartbroken. He'd worked so hard for years just to 'watch it crumble' within 24 hours. 'I felt quite depressed. I'd put so much time and energy into building a business and a brand,' he said. The business struggled during COVID. Picture: Istock He knew his business couldn't function during the pandemic, but he didn't want to give up the kitchen space he was renting, so he hustled hard to keep it. 'I ended up going to pack vegetables in a factory for a few months for $25 an hour,' he said. 'I felt quite depressed. I'd put so much time and energy into building a business and a brand. Despite struggling, Mr Cadger knew that he couldn't just give up and he had to somehow push through. The business is now thriving again. Picture: Supplied. In the end, he managed to pivot, creating cheese and wine boxes to send to people's houses during the lockdowns that helped sustain the business. Eventually, the lockdowns lifted, and Mr Cadger was filled with fire to bring his business back to life. 'Watching it crumble ignited a spark,' he said. Ms Cadger didn't do anything drastic to turn things around; he just preserved, kept investing back into the business and refused to quit until The Blonde Butler was back to thriving. Five years later and Mr Cadger has 60 employees, a cafe, a restaurant, a wedding venue and over 10 vans. 'It took years to recover from but now I'm back on my feet. I'm super proud of what we've achieved and that we're expanding,' he said. Originally published as 'The account was in minus': 35yo Aussie reveals how he turned his business around after getting hit hard by the pandemic
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Flat whites the biggest seller': the man bringing Aussie coffee culture to Japan
John Widmer has become quite the popular "coffee bloke" on a small island in Japan. Two years ago, he moved to Himeshima, where he opened a cafe that exclusively uses Australian beans. With his Japanese wife, Teruko Nakamichi, they run Ozi Cafe - and all the locals and tourists have taken notice. The island has a population of only about 1700 people. Mr Widmer, from Cronulla, is the island's only foreign resident. He says his business is boosting the local economy. His cafe sits directly across a ferry pier. The first thing tourists see is his cafe. And it's not hard to spot. Painted in green and gold, it stands out. "I think my cafe is the most photographed thing on the island now," he said. "It has bright Aussie sporting colours. When you look at the rest of Japan, there are many greys and browns. When the ferry pulls in, all the people pull their phones out and take pictures of the cafe. A walking tour called Walk Japan has also included the island on its tour - lots of Aussies do it." Bringing Australian coffee to Japan has been a hit, he says. "I couldn't get good beans or good coffee here. It was either under or over-roasted or too weak. The coffee culture is about 20 years behind Australia's, but I don't think it will take them 20 years to catch up. "I rang Di Lorenzo, and they sent me eight kilos for free. People love it, and we're getting lots of online orders. Customers are driving from other areas of Japan - three hours away, to buy the beans or have a coffee at the weekend." A popular request is a flat white. But it wasn't always the case. "Japanese are big on their black coffee - they're a lot like the Americans. I used to make Americanos, but now I call it an Australiano," Mr Widmer said. "They won't touch iced coffee in winter, but they like flat whites - our biggest seller. "I'm also making tea from a supplier from Perth. It's an Aboriginal-backed company that uses native Australians like lemon myrtle. They're a hit. I also use eco-friendly cups - no plastic lids. A cup of coffee is about $5." Mr Widmer also teaches children on the island how to swim. He previously owned a successful swimming school in Sutherland Shire. But the business went into liquidation during COVID-19, and he left Sydney at a time when travel was difficult. It was where he learnt how to make a decent coffee. "When I had the swim school, we had a coffee shop, so I did a barista course then," he said. "I knew how to make coffee." Now a resident of Japan, he says he feels right at home. "I love this country," he said. "The respect, courtesy and politeness of the Japanese people are unmatched anywhere in the world. It's cheap, and the food is fresh and seasonal." Despite the language barrier (he speaks very little Japanese), he adjusted to life by bringing a familiar taste of Australia to Japan. He started communicating with customers using Google Translate, and his wife helps. "I speak single words," he said. Mr Widmer's signature logo - a caricature of a face that he draws, features on the coffee cups. "It's the face I've been drawing since I was 12," he said. "I do it in eight different colours. People cut them off, put them on the back of their phones, and collect them. I've seen them on windows in people's cars. It's become a bit of an icon on the island. We've been on national television here." He also sells snacks, and aromatherapy balms made by Cronulla's Sharon Turner. But he's best known for his "loud shirts". "I can't go anywhere without kids recognising me," he said. "The mayor said I'm putting the island back on the map." John Widmer has become quite the popular "coffee bloke" on a small island in Japan. Two years ago, he moved to Himeshima, where he opened a cafe that exclusively uses Australian beans. With his Japanese wife, Teruko Nakamichi, they run Ozi Cafe - and all the locals and tourists have taken notice. The island has a population of only about 1700 people. Mr Widmer, from Cronulla, is the island's only foreign resident. He says his business is boosting the local economy. His cafe sits directly across a ferry pier. The first thing tourists see is his cafe. And it's not hard to spot. Painted in green and gold, it stands out. "I think my cafe is the most photographed thing on the island now," he said. "It has bright Aussie sporting colours. When you look at the rest of Japan, there are many greys and browns. When the ferry pulls in, all the people pull their phones out and take pictures of the cafe. A walking tour called Walk Japan has also included the island on its tour - lots of Aussies do it." Bringing Australian coffee to Japan has been a hit, he says. "I couldn't get good beans or good coffee here. It was either under or over-roasted or too weak. The coffee culture is about 20 years behind Australia's, but I don't think it will take them 20 years to catch up. "I rang Di Lorenzo, and they sent me eight kilos for free. People love it, and we're getting lots of online orders. Customers are driving from other areas of Japan - three hours away, to buy the beans or have a coffee at the weekend." A popular request is a flat white. But it wasn't always the case. "Japanese are big on their black coffee - they're a lot like the Americans. I used to make Americanos, but now I call it an Australiano," Mr Widmer said. "They won't touch iced coffee in winter, but they like flat whites - our biggest seller. "I'm also making tea from a supplier from Perth. It's an Aboriginal-backed company that uses native Australians like lemon myrtle. They're a hit. I also use eco-friendly cups - no plastic lids. A cup of coffee is about $5." Mr Widmer also teaches children on the island how to swim. He previously owned a successful swimming school in Sutherland Shire. But the business went into liquidation during COVID-19, and he left Sydney at a time when travel was difficult. It was where he learnt how to make a decent coffee. "When I had the swim school, we had a coffee shop, so I did a barista course then," he said. "I knew how to make coffee." Now a resident of Japan, he says he feels right at home. "I love this country," he said. "The respect, courtesy and politeness of the Japanese people are unmatched anywhere in the world. It's cheap, and the food is fresh and seasonal." Despite the language barrier (he speaks very little Japanese), he adjusted to life by bringing a familiar taste of Australia to Japan. He started communicating with customers using Google Translate, and his wife helps. "I speak single words," he said. Mr Widmer's signature logo - a caricature of a face that he draws, features on the coffee cups. "It's the face I've been drawing since I was 12," he said. "I do it in eight different colours. People cut them off, put them on the back of their phones, and collect them. I've seen them on windows in people's cars. It's become a bit of an icon on the island. We've been on national television here." He also sells snacks, and aromatherapy balms made by Cronulla's Sharon Turner. But he's best known for his "loud shirts". "I can't go anywhere without kids recognising me," he said. "The mayor said I'm putting the island back on the map." John Widmer has become quite the popular "coffee bloke" on a small island in Japan. Two years ago, he moved to Himeshima, where he opened a cafe that exclusively uses Australian beans. With his Japanese wife, Teruko Nakamichi, they run Ozi Cafe - and all the locals and tourists have taken notice. The island has a population of only about 1700 people. Mr Widmer, from Cronulla, is the island's only foreign resident. He says his business is boosting the local economy. His cafe sits directly across a ferry pier. The first thing tourists see is his cafe. And it's not hard to spot. Painted in green and gold, it stands out. "I think my cafe is the most photographed thing on the island now," he said. "It has bright Aussie sporting colours. When you look at the rest of Japan, there are many greys and browns. When the ferry pulls in, all the people pull their phones out and take pictures of the cafe. A walking tour called Walk Japan has also included the island on its tour - lots of Aussies do it." Bringing Australian coffee to Japan has been a hit, he says. "I couldn't get good beans or good coffee here. It was either under or over-roasted or too weak. The coffee culture is about 20 years behind Australia's, but I don't think it will take them 20 years to catch up. "I rang Di Lorenzo, and they sent me eight kilos for free. People love it, and we're getting lots of online orders. Customers are driving from other areas of Japan - three hours away, to buy the beans or have a coffee at the weekend." A popular request is a flat white. But it wasn't always the case. "Japanese are big on their black coffee - they're a lot like the Americans. I used to make Americanos, but now I call it an Australiano," Mr Widmer said. "They won't touch iced coffee in winter, but they like flat whites - our biggest seller. "I'm also making tea from a supplier from Perth. It's an Aboriginal-backed company that uses native Australians like lemon myrtle. They're a hit. I also use eco-friendly cups - no plastic lids. A cup of coffee is about $5." Mr Widmer also teaches children on the island how to swim. He previously owned a successful swimming school in Sutherland Shire. But the business went into liquidation during COVID-19, and he left Sydney at a time when travel was difficult. It was where he learnt how to make a decent coffee. "When I had the swim school, we had a coffee shop, so I did a barista course then," he said. "I knew how to make coffee." Now a resident of Japan, he says he feels right at home. "I love this country," he said. "The respect, courtesy and politeness of the Japanese people are unmatched anywhere in the world. It's cheap, and the food is fresh and seasonal." Despite the language barrier (he speaks very little Japanese), he adjusted to life by bringing a familiar taste of Australia to Japan. He started communicating with customers using Google Translate, and his wife helps. "I speak single words," he said. Mr Widmer's signature logo - a caricature of a face that he draws, features on the coffee cups. "It's the face I've been drawing since I was 12," he said. "I do it in eight different colours. People cut them off, put them on the back of their phones, and collect them. I've seen them on windows in people's cars. It's become a bit of an icon on the island. We've been on national television here." He also sells snacks, and aromatherapy balms made by Cronulla's Sharon Turner. But he's best known for his "loud shirts". "I can't go anywhere without kids recognising me," he said. "The mayor said I'm putting the island back on the map." John Widmer has become quite the popular "coffee bloke" on a small island in Japan. Two years ago, he moved to Himeshima, where he opened a cafe that exclusively uses Australian beans. With his Japanese wife, Teruko Nakamichi, they run Ozi Cafe - and all the locals and tourists have taken notice. The island has a population of only about 1700 people. Mr Widmer, from Cronulla, is the island's only foreign resident. He says his business is boosting the local economy. His cafe sits directly across a ferry pier. The first thing tourists see is his cafe. And it's not hard to spot. Painted in green and gold, it stands out. "I think my cafe is the most photographed thing on the island now," he said. "It has bright Aussie sporting colours. When you look at the rest of Japan, there are many greys and browns. When the ferry pulls in, all the people pull their phones out and take pictures of the cafe. A walking tour called Walk Japan has also included the island on its tour - lots of Aussies do it." Bringing Australian coffee to Japan has been a hit, he says. "I couldn't get good beans or good coffee here. It was either under or over-roasted or too weak. The coffee culture is about 20 years behind Australia's, but I don't think it will take them 20 years to catch up. "I rang Di Lorenzo, and they sent me eight kilos for free. People love it, and we're getting lots of online orders. Customers are driving from other areas of Japan - three hours away, to buy the beans or have a coffee at the weekend." A popular request is a flat white. But it wasn't always the case. "Japanese are big on their black coffee - they're a lot like the Americans. I used to make Americanos, but now I call it an Australiano," Mr Widmer said. "They won't touch iced coffee in winter, but they like flat whites - our biggest seller. "I'm also making tea from a supplier from Perth. It's an Aboriginal-backed company that uses native Australians like lemon myrtle. They're a hit. I also use eco-friendly cups - no plastic lids. A cup of coffee is about $5." Mr Widmer also teaches children on the island how to swim. He previously owned a successful swimming school in Sutherland Shire. But the business went into liquidation during COVID-19, and he left Sydney at a time when travel was difficult. It was where he learnt how to make a decent coffee. "When I had the swim school, we had a coffee shop, so I did a barista course then," he said. "I knew how to make coffee." Now a resident of Japan, he says he feels right at home. "I love this country," he said. "The respect, courtesy and politeness of the Japanese people are unmatched anywhere in the world. It's cheap, and the food is fresh and seasonal." Despite the language barrier (he speaks very little Japanese), he adjusted to life by bringing a familiar taste of Australia to Japan. He started communicating with customers using Google Translate, and his wife helps. "I speak single words," he said. Mr Widmer's signature logo - a caricature of a face that he draws, features on the coffee cups. "It's the face I've been drawing since I was 12," he said. "I do it in eight different colours. People cut them off, put them on the back of their phones, and collect them. I've seen them on windows in people's cars. It's become a bit of an icon on the island. We've been on national television here." He also sells snacks, and aromatherapy balms made by Cronulla's Sharon Turner. But he's best known for his "loud shirts". "I can't go anywhere without kids recognising me," he said. "The mayor said I'm putting the island back on the map."
Sky News AU
13 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Amart reveals plan to purchase Freedom Furniture in $1b merger to shake up local retail market
Aussie furniture retailer Amart has announced plans to purchase Freedom Furniture and create a powerhouse which will turn over about $1 billion annually. The takeover of Greenlit Brands' Freedom Furniture by Amart, which is backed by Quadrant Private Equity, will establish a group with 120 stores across Australia and New Zealand. The two businesses will remain separate and facilitate one another as they both look to expand their store numbers. Both companies are in competition against Harvey Norman, which turns over about $6b annually, while Freedom Furniture rivals ASX-listed designer furniture retailer Nick Scali. There are currently 196 Harvey Norman, Domayne and Joyce Mayne stores in Australia alongside 45 in New Zealand. Freedom Furniture has 47 stores across Australia, 13 in New Zealand and six distribution centres alongside offices in Sydney and Auckland. Amart currently has 66 stores and could target about 100 stores, while Freedom Furniture could expand to an 80-100 store network, according to the Australian Financial Review. Freedom Furniture's CEO Blaine Callard said joining forces with Amart was key for the company's growth. 'Freedom has achieved significant momentum thanks to our team and loyal customers,' Mr Callard said. 'We're excited about the opportunity to continue our growth journey alongside Amart, while staying true to our mission of offering inspirational, design-led products for the home.' Amart chairman Chris Hadley said the acquisition will ultimately be a boon for customers. 'Freedom is an iconic furniture brand across Australia and New Zealand, which is highly complementary to Amart,' Mr Hadley said. 'This acquisition will result in greater choice and value for customers. We look forward to welcoming the Freedom team to Amart and supporting their next phase of growth.' Amart's CEO Lee Chadwick added to this sentiment, arguing the deal creates a better platform for Freedom Furniture as it looks to bolster growth and further its customer reach. 'We are excited to support Freedom on the next wave of its growth journey from expanding the store network and growing online sales, to strengthening product range and category depth,' Mr Chadwick said. 'The combined business is well placed to deliver quality, stylish products to more customers, more often.' Amart said the merger will allow the combined business to increase scale, boost supply chain efficiency and investment capability while each outlet maintains their own identities. Following the deal, Greenlit now only holds Fantastic Furniture in its Australian furniture stable. Greenlit came from its parent group Steinhoff International Holdings after it became engulfed in controversy for overstating its profits. The Amart-Freedom Furniture merger is yet to be approved and is subject to customary conditions.
