An Interview With Therese Barrett.

Inventing then reinventing her life at sixty.

What did you do before starting your small business?

I worked in State Government for over 40 years, including managing the correspondence team and coordinating the department's correspondence between the Director-General and the Minister's Office. 

Did you enjoy your job?

Yes, but I took a couple of breaks during my 40 years as a public servant. I managed a country pub with my husband once, and we also managed a café in North Brisbane. I also set up an ironing service which grew to be the largest ironing service on Brisbane's northside. We love travelling, especially camping, and hubby and I would often take extended holidays to explore Australia.

What inspired you to start your small business?

Six years ago, I took a trip to Uluru from Brisbane with my hubby in a pop-up camper trailer. 

We had nowhere to store our clothing and used duffle bags – which we placed on one of the pop-up beds and then put on the floor when the camper was packed down. Drove me nuts trying to keep my clothes organised and find things in the bottom of a dark duffle bag. I needed to take a heap of things out to find undies or a t-shirt. 

I came to think there must be a clear luggage of some sort out there. I searched luggage shops and the internet and could not find anything. So the idea came to mind to design my own. 

I started by using a big blue Ikea bag, and I put large clear zip lock bags in it with t-shirts in one, shorts in another etc. I placed this bag under the table in the camper trailer and could reach down and see my clothes and unzip the bag to get them out. It was fiddly and got messy because things would get buried, but it worked ok because I didn't have to bother dragging the bag to the bed every day. 

So I designed and manufactured durable camping bags that are completely see-through, with zipped compartments accessible from the top.

What is your brand name, and why?

Campaq

I wanted a modern 'clicky' name that would be easily remembered. I combined camp and pack – so it would describe the product.

Out of all your bags, which is your favourite and why?

The large bag – my hubby and I use them for carrying/storing all our needs for the caravan shows – stationery, business and thank you cards, table cloths, pens etc. Always in that bag. We also use them to store our winter clothes and linen for our caravan – either in the caravan or the shed. When we visit someone to stay overnight or for a couple of nights at their house – we share one bag for clothes, a hairdryer, shoes etc. So versatile!

List the challenges you faced when you started Campaq.

Geez…where do I start? No….seriously…Where do I start? I made a couple of phone calls to PVC product manufacturers around Brisbane with pretty ordinary responses. 

I was still working in my government job at the time, and I just let the bag idea go in the too-hard basket and thought, "that was just an idea." 

But the bag idea kept coming back every time we went camping.

Because it was challenging to find a manufacturer in Australia, I eventually undertook an Amazon course – which taught me how to contact and negotiate with overseas suppliers and handle shipping and importing.

I didn't know how to start a business, so I undertook another online course by Mia Freedman that helps lady startups get their business ideas off the ground. 

Finance – I just had to dip into our house equity and super.

I found a supplier on Alibaba – then tested and perfected the design, and the delivery of the bags was super easy. My guy in China is fabulous. He's helpful and makes it so easy.

At first, I didn't know where to sell. 

I started online, but I also did some markets – and now we travel to caravan shows. 

How to market online was a big challenge!

The Numbers!!! I am absolutely shit at this! I have a spreadsheet with everything from my business account listed and started transferring to a proper bookkeeping sheet that Karley Beadman created – but I'm so busy getting busy running Campaq that the bookkeeping and numbers are not happening.

How has your business impacted your personal/family life?

Well, we had to be serious about making Campaq a real success. 

And the best way to do this was to sell our house and many belongings, buy a caravan and hit the road to travel to caravan shows to sell the bags.

I am no longer on last-minute calls to pick up and drop off my granddaughter, but we will be around some school hols and always be back for birthdays.

Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision in your business and how you handled it.

About twelve months ago, I thought I would toss the whole lot in – I seemed to be just paying out money for stock, photography, subscriptions etc. etc. etc.

I wasn't bringing any money into the household. 

My hubby was still working casually to pay the mortgage and keep everything running. I thought I should stop and just go and get a job before I spent ALL our money.

Then one night, Karley Beadman called me after I sent her a message about how stressed I was. She guided me on how to get out of the rut I was in and make progress and what I had to do to 'get my product out there' and sell!

What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your business so far, and why?

Just making the idea come to life! 

After 3 or 4 years of fiddling around with online courses and selling stuff on Amazon, I finally took a big gulp and made Campaq happen. 

I was 60 when I launched – I had never done online marketing or IG or social media. I was pretty proud of that.

What motivates you to keep growing and improving your business?

Everyone says that the bags are a great idea. They say they love them because they make camping easier, etc. etc. Knowing the product is unique, strong and made to last and knowing I have now put a lot of time and money into it motivates me to grow Campaq.

Describe how you feel when you sell a bag.

I feel so amazingly proud of myself. I designed that! Little old me – so bloody excited!

Who has been a significant mentor or role model in your life, and how have they influenced your business?

Karley Beadman – Karley is an "ideas" person. Karley's story is about starting with nothing but an idea, and working hard, against all odds, to make her business come to life.

She rattled off so many ideas in a phone call one day, and I madly took notes that I always refer to. Karley told me what books I should read and what podcasts I should listen to. One particular podcast was Catherine Langman. I listened to Catherine and found her to be down to earth, unlike some big business entrepreneurs with unachievable goals. I eventually tried a free mini-course with Catherine and then signed up for her Work with You Course – which has been amazing! I have all her website, email, and marketing gurus on hand through zoom coaching calls and a private FB page. Brilliant!

But my number one mentor was my Mum. 

My Mum had the most amazing positive attitude, and she had the hardest, downright crappy life a lot of the time. But she always saw the light at the tunnel's end and smiled. She always told me that when times were tough and when you reached the bottom, the only way to go was up! I often say this to myself when I feel those little moments in life…..and I think of and thank my Mum as I force myself off the floor.

On a personal level, what do you believe is your greatest strength?

Determination and positivity.

I will grind on when others give up – I usually think, there must be a way to do whatever. 

Also, I am a 'can do' person rather than a can not person. Thanks Mum.

Please share a story about how someone made you feel about your business.

My hairdresser, Cara, was my first full-on supporter. She bought the bags for her three girls to pack to go camping. She tells everyone about them at every opportunity. She makes videos and photos of her girls with the Campaq bags for me to share on my socials and business. She is just so supportive – not just in a verbal way but by actions. Words are easy – actions are better.

For Xmas, I filled my latest big purple bag with loads of toys and stuff for her girls and included a nice bottle of wine and nibbles for Cara and hubby. She texted me late that night, "I'm sitting here with my feet up, sipping my red wine at 10.30 after a particularly long day. It turns out it is the same wine we had at our wedding, and I love it. The girls could not wait to go through all the goodies in the bag. They think you are the actual Santa!" I cried.

Can you share another story about a customer?

At a caravan show, an older lady and her adult daughter came up to look at the bags. They were doing a cruise together shortly, and the daughter was trying to convince her mother that she should get one, a great idea for her etc. Anyway, Mum eventually bought one or 2. I was chatting to the daughter – who looked like she had seen better days, was a skinny lady, tattoos and face jewellery….anyway chatting to her cause she was telling me how wonderful her Mum was helping look after her and her kids. It turns out the daughter's husband was murdered only 12 months earlier by a neighbour who was stalking her. He broke into the house one night, and hubby was there, so he killed him. She was a mess. Anyway, I hugged her, and we had a little cry, and I wished her the best things to come to her for the rest of her life. As she walked off, I rang after her and gave her a bag. She asked why? I said, cause you just need to smile about something today.

What is the greatest reward of running your own business?

Going anywhere we want, whenever we want. 

My husband tells everybody he is Living the Dream. And he is. I know we are the envy of a few friends. He has worked hard and long hours over the years to support me in everything I do. Now I get to do the same for him. I can't say I am making the big dollars yet, but it will happen.

What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps and start a similar business?

It is hard work – behind the scenes – you are doing all the work, and you feel like you are the only one in the world working on this. Once people buy your product or service, they think you are wonderful, but it is tiring. Your brain never stops thinking about the business and what you must do—always trying to think forwards. So be certain this is what you want to do. Research where and how to sell your product to get the best bang for your buck. See if you can get any grants or govt assistance.

What is your vision for the future?

I want to increase production and start selling globally. I want Campaq bags to be known as the best camping bag they can buy. Great product, best quality and best customer service.